Opinion: Opinion | The Gulf's New Defence Agreement Has A 'Credibility' Problem
This opinion piece analyzes the strategic implications and credibility of a new tripartite defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. The author questions the effectiveness of this alliance in countering regional threats from Iran and the Houthi movement.
Why it matters
It highlights the shifting geopolitical security architecture in the Middle East and the potential instability caused by overlapping military alliances.
The tripartite Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey defence pact follows the Saudi-Pakistan defence pact. The latter came as a surprise, even though Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have had known security links. Pakistani troop contingents have reputedly provided security protection to the Saudi monarchy. The former Pakistani Army Chief, Raheel Sharif, is heading the grouping, which again points to security-related understandings between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. It is also believed that the Saudis had played a role in financing Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme.Formalising a defence pact between the two countries is, of course, a major step. Especially if it contains a provision that the attack against one country will be considered an attack on both.
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