00:00The Middle East is about to change dramatically, with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan forming
00:04a sudden military alliance resembling an Islamic NATO.
00:08On August 7, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey gathered in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and signed
00:13a joint defense treaty.
00:15If any of these three countries are attacked, the others will treat it as an attack on themselves
00:19and intervene.
00:20This was already in their joint statement.
00:23The three countries also said they signed the treaty to boost collective deterrence
00:27against aggression.
00:28It was specified that an armed attack against any of the three countries that signed the
00:32treaty would be considered an attack against all of them.
00:35These three Middle Eastern countries formed a military alliance mainly because of Iran.
00:39If you open a map and mark the locations of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan with red
00:44dots, then connect those dots with lines, a very interesting pattern emerges.
00:48Iran sits at the center of that triangular structure, serving as a geopolitical hub and
00:52the leading Shia power seemingly surrounded at its base.
00:55This is why the recent defense agreement is seen as a strategic effort to block and resist
01:00Iran's aggressive power expansion.
01:03Recently, Iran has launched indiscriminate missile and drone attacks against the key oil-producing
01:07countries in the Gulf region and major energy transport routes.
01:11Fears of a major armed conflict spreading across the Middle East have quickly grown.
01:15In response, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, facing a severe security crisis, have started
01:20creating their own independent security alliance.
01:23The key trigger for this chain reaction was the shift in the United States' attitude.
01:27The United States, traditionally the Middle East security protector, has adopted a passive
01:32stance on regional conflicts, leading to a major crack in the security order.
01:36Foreign media report that the US plans to withdraw troops from key Middle Eastern bases, such as
01:42Kuwait.
01:42The Kuwaiti government feels deeply betrayed that the United States did not share information
01:47before going to war.
01:49Additionally, the United States, once proud of its top-tier air defense system, suffered
01:53a major credibility loss as a security partner after failing to fully stop Iran's missile attacks.
01:58On the other hand, as the United States continued to suffer casualties among its troops due to ongoing
02:02attacks from Iran, it decided to significantly reduce its military presence in the region to
02:07minimize these losses.
02:08The rift with the United States and rumors of US troop withdrawal pressured the three
02:13Middle Eastern countries to form a new military cartel for self-protection without American
02:18support.
02:19As a result, it seems that they have decided to form a military alliance among themselves
02:22instead.
02:23In fact, if you look at these three countries individually, you might think they're not that
02:27impressive, but in terms of potential, they're actually quite remarkable, especially if they
02:30join forces.
02:32First of all, with Saudi Arabia's oil money, Turkey's status as a NATO member and its defense
02:36industry technology, and Pakistan's nuclear weapons coming together, people are already
02:41calling it an Islamic NATO.
02:43Of course, this kind of movement isn't happening for the first time.
02:46Saudi Arabia and Pakistan already signed a NATO-style strategic mutual defense agreement
02:50back in September 2025.
02:52However, as the situation in the Middle East has become more turbulent, Turkey has also joined
02:56in.
02:57As Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan strengthen their military alliance like this, Iran is
03:01expressing a very sensitive and negative reaction.
03:04Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi made a public statement through social media platform
03:08X.
03:09The message was that Muslims around the world should unite as one against external forces.
03:15Minister Aragchi said Islamic countries should rely on their own abilities and that unity
03:20through genuine religious brotherhood allows them to counter hostile foreign powers.
03:25Iran refers to the United States and Israel as foreign powers and suggests that instead
03:29of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan forming a separate military alliance, they should unite
03:34in a pan-Islamic coalition against the US and Israel.
03:37However, Iran's official stance is highly contradictory.
03:40Iran has long used military and proxy tactics to threaten Gulf oil infrastructure and key maritime
03:45routes for its strategic aims.
03:47It was Iran that destabilized the region by launching missile and drone attacks on key facilities
03:52in neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia.
03:55Iran has directly posed military threats to its rivals, yet when the affected countries
03:59seek security by forming defense agreements, Iran belatedly calls for Islamic brotherhood
04:04and unity.
04:05This behavior fails to gain understanding from neighboring countries.
04:08Iran is worried this trilateral defense deal will be used to geopolitically contain it.
04:14Iran seeks to undermine the alliance's justification by promoting Islamic unity and is showing
04:19caution and resistance toward the Mecca joint defense agreement.
04:22However, this is unlikely to work.
04:24While Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey seek a single agreement, each pursues its own national
04:30interests and strategic goals.
04:32First, Saudi Arabia considers the safety of maritime transport routes, which are a key element
04:36of its national security, as its top priority.
04:38The Hormuz strait, which plays an absolutely vital role in crude oil exports, as well as
04:43the Red Sea and the Babel-Mandeb strait, are areas that have a decisive impact on the country's
04:47economy and security.
04:49Recently, ongoing security threats to maritime routes have raised serious concerns.
04:54Also, the limits of U.S. defensive capabilities supporting Middle East security are starting
04:59to show.
05:00As the stockpiles of interceptor missiles like THAAD and Patriot have been depleted, making it
05:04difficult for the United States to provide a defense network, Saudi Arabia has found itself
05:08in a situation where it must secure its own independent military deterrence without relying
05:12on other countries.
05:13Pakistan's goal in this cooperation is to receive stable economic support and oil funds
05:18from Saudi Arabia.
05:20Based on this, Pakistan aims to gain an advantage in the struggle for dominance against its longtime
05:24rival India in the South Asian region.
05:27Whenever Pakistan had a foreign exchange crisis in the past, it relied heavily on Saudi Arabia
05:31for financial help.
05:32After Pakistan's 1998 nuclear tests led to harsh international sanctions, Saudi Arabia
05:38helped Pakistan overcome its economic crisis by providing up to 50,000 barrels of free oil
05:43daily.
05:44Turkey aims to establish itself as a global military power by leveraging its geopolitical
05:49position connecting Europe and the Middle East.
05:51There is also an effort to limit Israel's influence in the Middle East.
05:55Last year, Turkey rapidly grew into a major arms exporter by exporting weapons worth over
05:5910 billion dollars to several countries, including Ukraine.
06:03In addition, by directly intervening and participating in the civil wars in Syria and Libya, Turkey has
06:08practically expanded its military influence.
06:11Because of this, there are certainly some voices of concern being raised.
06:14To be honest, when Saudi Arabia was attacked by Iran, Pakistan only acted as a mediator and
06:19didn't really intervene militarily.
06:22So, there are still questions about whether this military alliance is actually effective.
06:26Separately, there is also talk that Egypt might join this Mecca joint defense agreement.
06:31Earlier this year, Egypt created the Saja four-party diplomatic and security group with Saudi Arabia,
06:36Turkey, and Pakistan.
06:37Because of this, Egypt often refers to itself as the Arab world's big brother and there are
06:42predictions that Egypt is highly likely to join.
06:44If this expands further into an Islamic military alliance, there is a strong possibility that
06:49it could later serve to keep Israel in check.
06:51Turkey A is currently determined to restrain Israel, while major powers face complex calculations
06:56over the defense treaty system involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey A, and Pakistan.
07:01First, let's take a look at the situation facing the United States.
07:04The US aims to lessen military and financial commitments in the Middle East as a key defense strategy.
07:09This is because it reduces the cost of maintaining US troops stationed overseas and provides
07:14an opportunity to concentrate military power in the Indo-Pacific region.
07:17However, while the military burden is decreasing, the United States' exclusive dominance over
07:21the Middle East is weakening.
07:23Allied countries that once depended on US security are now developing independent military systems,
07:28moving beyond America's control.
07:30In particular, Turkey, a NATO member forming and leading an independent military alliance without
07:35US approval presents a major dilemma for America's security policy.
07:39On the other hand, China and Russia are gaining significant benefits as US influence
07:43diminishes.
07:44China is currently trying to actively take advantage of this situation.
07:48In particular, China is raising its diplomatic profile by acting as a mediator between conflicting
07:52countries and is expanding its competitive and cooperative relationships with the Middle
07:55East through the Belt and Road Initiative.
07:57Russia is using this situation to keep its influence in the Middle East.
08:01Within OPEC+, the alliance of oil exporting countries, Russia is cooperating with Saudi Arabia
08:06by adjusting energy supply levels and is strengthening its defense industry cooperation and expanding arms export
08:11opportunities to countries that have difficulty purchasing American weapons.
08:15As the US loses dominance in the Middle East, China and Russia are increasing their diplomatic,
08:20economic, and military presence amid major power competition.
08:23China and Russia might use the Mecca Defense Agreement to boost their influence in the Middle
08:28East.
08:29I believe the Mecca Agreement will significantly impact the Middle East.
08:33the European East.
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