ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia appears to be recalibrating its foreign policypriorities, moving away from close coordination with the United ArabEmirates while strengthening defence and strategic ties with Pakistan andTurkey, countries known for their critical positions toward Israel. Thisdevelopment, highlighted in analyses by the Israeli newspaper JewishInsider, stems from escalating tensions in proxy conflicts and broadergeopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East. The shift challenges earlierassumptions about Riyadh’s role as a moderating force in the region,potentially reshaping alliances amid ongoing regional instability.
The foundation of this realignment traces back to the Strategic MutualDefence Agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on September 17,2025, in Riyadh. The pact commits both nations to treat any aggressionagainst one as an attack on both, mirroring NATO’s collective defenceprinciple. Signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and PakistaniPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the agreement formalizes decades of militarycooperation, including training programs where Pakistan has preparedthousands of Saudi personnel. Analysts view it as a hedge against perceivedunreliability in traditional security partnerships, particularly followingregional events that heightened concerns over external threats.
Recent reports indicate that Turkey is now in advanced discussions to jointhis bilateral arrangement, potentially transforming it into a trilateralframework. Sources familiar with the talks suggest that negotiations haveprogressed significantly, with a deal described as highly likely in thenear term. Turkey’s inclusion would combine Saudi financial resources,Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and manpower, and Turkish militaryexpertise alongside its advanced defence industry. This emerging blocshares overlapping interests in countering certain regional threats anddiversifying security options beyond longstanding dependencies.
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have intensifiedmarkedly in recent months, reaching a public boiling point in late December2025. Saudi airstrikes targeted what Riyadh described as UAE-linked weaponsshipments destined for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen,prompting the UAE to announce partial troop withdrawals from the conflictzone. These actions underscore deep divergences over Yemen’s future, wherethe two Gulf powers back opposing factions amid stalled efforts tostabilize the war-torn country.
The rift extends beyond Yemen into Sudan, where Saudi Arabia and the UAEsupport rival sides in the ongoing civil war. Saudi Arabia has aligned withgovernment forces, while the UAE backs paramilitary groups accused ofserious violations. Similar differences have emerged in Somalia and theHorn of Africa, contributing to a broader pattern of competition thatanalysts describe as a new Cold War dynamic within the Gulf. These disputeshave eroded the once-seamless coordination between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi,formerly key partners in regional initiatives.
Jewish Insider’s December 31, 2025, report titled “Saudi Arabia pivots frommoderation” captures this shift vividly, quoting analyst HussainAbdul-Hussain as stating that Saudi Arabia is abandoning its recent policystance and distancing itself from the UAE and moderate capitals. Thearticle frames the region as divided between two competing alliances: oneled by Israel and the UAE, allied with India, Greece, and Cyprus, and arival axis involving Turkey, Qatar, Iran, and Pakistan. It portrays Saudimoves as aligning more closely with the latter group, which holds openlyhostile views toward Israel.
The UAE’s normalization with Israel through the Abraham Accords in 2020contrasts sharply with Saudi Arabia’s conditional approach, which insistson progress toward Palestinian statehood. This divergence has fueledspeculation that Riyadh’s new strategic choices reflect frustration withstalled normalization prospects and a desire to assert greater independencein security matters. While official statements emphasize defensivecooperation, the timing amid heightened regional tensions adds layers ofstrategic significance.
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Observers note that Saudi Arabia’s pivot coincides with broaderuncertainties, including questions over U.S. commitments and evolvingthreats from actors like Iran. The defence pact with Pakistan providesRiyadh with enhanced deterrence options, while potential Turkishinvolvement could further strengthen joint capabilities. However, the fullimplications for Gulf unity and wider Middle East stability remain underscrutiny as talks progress.
Source:https://jewishinsider.com/2025/12/saudi-arabia-yemen-sudan-israel-uae-moderation-abraham-accords/
Tags: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, StrategicMutual Defence Agreement
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