Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Sign Defense Pact Amid Rising Tensions with Iran
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a significant defense pact in Mecca, aiming to enhance regional security cooperation. This agreement, signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, establishes a mutual defense framework among the three nations. The pact is seen as a response to the escalating conflict with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been targeting Saudi Arabia with missile and drone attacks. The agreement reflects a shift towards regional powers taking more responsibility for their security, as American deterrence in the region is perceived to have weakened. The pact is not intended to form a military axis or sectarian bloc but is purely defensive, with the potential for other regional states to join in the future. 
