Since the dawn of history, the Middle East has witnessed many momentous events. Throughout history, there have been those who sought to build alliances to protect their nations. During the Crusades, when Europe sought to export its crises, this region became its strategic arena, diverting attention from internal matters. However, it was fortunate that some were able to liberate it from the grip of European occupation.
Similarly, when colonial powers sought to extend their influence over salt, energy and other resources, paving the way to East Asia, others emerged to rescue the nations in the region. When some ancient empires, such as the Persian Empire, harbored colonial ambitions, others were able to save the countries in the region, whether during the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs or after them, such as Khalid ibn Al-Walid, Saladin and others, by establishing alliances among the people of the region. In the modern era, several factors have entered the political and military landscape, transforming states into geographically defined entities. These states have sought to bolster their power according to their capabilities, both internally and in their foreign relations.
Here, we are speaking of a power with a significant political, economic and religious presence -- the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has undergone a radical transformation since the reign of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. History shows that states age and decline, but every century, a new generation emerges to rejuvenate them and restore their strength. The Kingdom has been witnessing this since 2015, when it started working on several fronts. Internally, it reformed laws and regulations, enabling it to enjoy greater economic power and speak the language of the modern age. Externally, it strengthened its relations with neighboring Gulf states and the rest of the world. Thus, the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani tripartite alliance is viewed as a natural response to the dangers threatening the entire region, from Israeli threats to Iranian expansionism, cloaked in slogans like ‘exporting the revolution’.
Both are dangerous because they not only infringe upon sovereignty but also undermine economic, political and religious foundations. This alliance gives the three countries greater power. Their combined GDP is $3.4 trillion, and they possess significant military and public support. Therefore, the new defense agreement, which complements the initiative of Riyadh to establish a maritime alliance to defend the Red Sea and straits of the region —an alliance comprising 14 countries— means that the interconnectedness of the two alliances is now a reality. Any threats, from whatever source, will be met with a formidable response. Because other regional agreements, such as the Gulf Joint Defense Treaty, are based on cooperation in defense fields, this new alliance offers a significant opportunity for other Gulf states, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, to join, thus, strengthening the defensive and deterrent capabilities of the region.
While it is true that the balance of power in the region is being redrawn according to a vision different from that established by the outcomes of the First and Second World Wars, the power possessed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan will be the cornerstone of the future of the Middle East. The infl uential states within the region will ultimately determine the fate of many strategic issues in the entire region
