Saudi Arabia Launches Another Defense Alliance – Less Than a Week After the 'Mecca Agreement'
The tensions with Iran over the past six months have apparently caused Saudi Arabia to accelerate its arms race, as beyond the F-35 jets, the kingdom has also signed defense alliances. However, when it comes…
Assessment
Saudi Arabia is moving quickly to build defensive alliances, launching another one less than a week after the Mecca agreement. The backdrop is six months of tension with Iran, which appears to be accelerating the kingdom's arms race, including F-35 jets. Yet on the ground, Saudi Arabia has remained isolated, particularly against the Houthis. The key question is whether this new pact will change that dynamic or prove to be another ineffective initiative from Riyadh.