New ‘Muslim NATO’ ‘Aimed at Israel,’ Official Warns, but Experts Say Pact Is Largely Declarative
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chat after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 7, 2026. Photo: Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press…
Assessment
A senior Israeli official has publicly labeled the new Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani defense pact as directly targeting Israel, raising the diplomatic temperature. Israeli experts, however, downplay the agreement's practical military significance, suggesting it is more symbolic than operational. The gap between official alarm and expert skepticism will shape how Israel calibrates its response, with the risk that overreaction could inadvertently strengthen the pact's political weight.