Why Saudi Arabia Wants Turkey’s Military and Pakistan’s Nuclear Shield

By Times News

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Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Pact, a new defence alliance built around the promise that an attack on one is an attack on all. Together they bring Saudi money and religious authority, Turkey’s military strength and defence industry and Pakistan’s army and nuclear power. But would any of them really go to war for the others? Tom and Patrick are joined by Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall to explore why the pact has emerged now. Is it a response to Iran’s decline, growing doubts over America’s reliability or the changing relationship with Israel? Or is the Mecca Pact merely a strategic hedge, or the beginning of a new balance of power in the Middle East? How do you think the Mecca Defence Alliance will impact the region? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:00 - Mecca Pact Explained 05:04 - Saudi–Turkey–Pakistan Defence Alliance 13:02 - Why the Mecca Pact Matters Now 23:32 - Is the Mecca Pact a New NATO? 32:53 - Future of Middle East Secur

Tags: the times, the sunday times, Mecca Pact, Middle East defence alliance, Saudi Arabia defence agreement, Turkey military power, Pakistan nuclear deterrent, Eastern NATO, Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall, regional security, Middle East geopolitics, NATO Article 5, Turkish defence industry, Pakistan army, US Middle East policy, Israel security, strategic hedging, balance of power, defence analysis, global security