The defence pact between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, signed on 7 August 2026 in the city of Mecca, can be viewed as a sign of an emerging new balance of power in the Middle East. This development comes at a time when the regional power structure is undergoing transformation and the traditional security order, largely dependent on US support, is facing new limitations and questions. Although the formation of this pact should primarily be understood as a product of the regional powers' own security calculations and concerns, in the short term it may also align with certain strategic calculations in Washington, including burden-sharing and balancing Iran.
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One important factor behind the emergence of such arrangements is the growth of Iran's regional power and influence, together with

