Mecca defense pact ‘sidesteps the United States and Israel’

A mutual defense pact, the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, was signed on August 7, 2026, by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, signaling the rise of a Sunni bloc. Israeli observers view this as a strong central Sunni axis, capable of counterbalancing other regional forces and preparing for the Iranian threat, according to Meir Ben-Shabbat, former Israeli national security adviser. He stated the agreement "symbolizes several things," including a desire for an arrangement independent of the United States and bypassing Israel, with potential for political and economic partnerships. Dr. Brandon Friedman of Tel Aviv University noted the pact reflects a shared perception that "both Israel and Iran are potentially destabilizing threats." Egypt's absence is attributed to the pact's NATO-like binding mutual-defense clause, which conflicts with its existing relationships and economic ties, particularly with the UAE and India. The agreement, described as purely defensive, builds on a prior Pakistan-Saudi Arabia pact and is open to other countries.