Three Nations Form New Military Alliance After War on Iran

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan agreed in Mecca in August 2026 to defend one another if attacked — like a group of friends promising to back each other up. Analyst Betul Dogan-Akkas says the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began February 28, 2026, left nearby countries feeling unsafe without America's help. Analyst Umer Karim says this adds to, not replaces, US protection.