Middle East Powers Unite Against External Threats

The United States has long been entangled in the complex web of politics and conflicts in the Middle East, with every president since Barack Obama attempting to extricate itself from the region.

A recent development may provide an opportunity for the US to redefine its role in the area. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey have announced a mutual defense agreement, similar to the NATO pact between the US and its European allies.

The 'Mecca Joint Defense Agreement' is a supplement to a bilateral deal between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which brought Pakistani fighter jets and troops to the oil-rich kingdom. The agreement makes an attack on any one of these three countries equivalent to an attack on all three.