Archive
Egypt’s refusal to join the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani pact reflects a broader strategy to deepen regional security cooperation without accepting binding military alignments that constrain Cairo’s freedom of action.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are not building an alliance to ignite another regional conflict, but to prevent an increasingly dangerous imbalance from producing one.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia have reasons related to regional deterrence, while Pakistan aims to solidify its diplomatic resurgence in the region.
Pakistan and Kuwait are holding preliminary negotiations over a major expansion of their defense relationship that could include troops, fighter aircraft, drones and air-defense systems.
After Donald Trump threatened to erase Iranian civilization and Israel struck Iranian infrastructure, a two-week ceasefire proposal backed by Pakistan, Egypt, and other regional powers has opened a narrow diplomatic window. But with Lebanon still at the center of dispute, the real test will be whether Israel can be restrained.