Saudi Arabia’s new defense pact with Pakistan underscores Gulf states’ mounting doubts about U.S. security commitments after an Israeli airstrike.
Saudi Arabia has signed a mutual defense treaty with Pakistan following Israel’s unprecedented airstrike on a Gulf state, deepening concerns among Arab leaders over U.S. security guarantees. The deal, reportedly concluded without prior consultation with Washington, comes as Gulf states increasingly question America’s reliability as their primary security partner.
At a summit in New York on Tuesday, leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met with President Donald Trump in an atmosphere described as tense. “The pact is not aimed at Washington but at complementing U.S. security guarantees that have repeatedly proven inadequate,” analysts noted.
The Israeli strike, targeting Hamas negotiators in Qatar, has been seen as a watershed moment. Trump officials said they had little warning, but many Gulf leaders doubt that account. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rhetoric about fighting “on seven fronts” has further fueled fears of regional destabilization.
Observers warn that unless Washington reassures allies, new defense blocs could emerge, threatening Trump’s Abraham Accords.