Iran War Widens, Saudi Arabia Embraces 2 Most Powerful Muslim Military Forces

ILLUSTRATION PHOTO / Saudi Arabian Royal Army / DOK PHOTO Staff Sgt. Carlie Stonebraker

Saudi Arabia is embracing the two most powerful military forces in the Muslim world to strengthen its defenses as the threat of war with Iran draws closer to the kingdom.

Pakistan and Turkey signed a NATO-style joint defense pact with Saudi Arabia in Mecca on Friday, August 7, transforming their long-term security ties into a collective defense alliance.

By designating an attack on one party as an attack on all three, the pact has the potential to drag Pakistan and Turkey into a war they have carefully avoided.

The pact provides a powerful new layer of protection for Saudi Arabia amid growing regional doubts about whether Washington can still be relied on to protect its allies in the oil-rich Gulf.

The deal strengthens Saudi Arabia's deterrent power and presents a united military front led by Sunni groups to counter Iran's growing threat.

The move also comes as Israel expands its military reach in the region and Riyadh's relations with its neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, have begun to fray.

Pakistan and Turkey both share a direct border with Iran and have strong reasons to prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control.

Pakistan has to manage its sizeable Shiite population as well as its sensitive relations with Tehran, while Turkey and Iran have shared concerns over Kurdish separatism even as they compete in other parts of the region.

Tehran has repeatedly attacked various targets in Saudi Arabia during the war, including civilian infrastructure, energy facilities, and US interests. Iran's direct attacks on Saudi Arabia have largely subsided since the ceasefire came into effect on April 8, but Iranian-backed groups in Yemen and Iraq continue to launch attacks against the kingdom.

Riyadh is one of the most vocal parties against this war and has tried to prevent US President Donald Trump from escalating against the Islamic Republic. However, the attacks that Saudi Arabia continues to face from various directions have made officials increasingly worried and frustrated.

A Saudi official told CNN on Thursday, August 6, that the kingdom was preparing for a major and coordinated attack by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen, with support from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

CNN also reported that Tehran had warned the Gulf countries that a new attack from the US would trigger retaliation targeting energy facilities or desalination facilities throughout the region.

Therefore, the agreement signed in Mecca on Friday is a warning to Tehran: another major attack on Saudi Arabia could activate the pact, dragging Pakistan and Turkey into the conflict, and drastically expanding the scope of the war.