Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Form 'Muslim Nato' Alliance

The 'Muslim Nato' agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan aims to strengthen deterrence and deepen military cooperation beyond the United States.

The pact, signed in Mecca on August 7, brings together the second-largest army in NATO, Turkey, with Saudi Arabia's significant oil reserves and Pakistan's nuclear capabilities.

The agreement is not directed against any particular country, according to Turkish Vice-President Cevdet Yilmaz, but was created in response to current developments in the region, particularly the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Saudi Arabia sees this new alliance as an additional layer of protection beyond its long-standing security partnership with the US, which has been questioned after recent months of fighting.