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RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: Putin’s newest submarine – designed to carry Poseidon doomsday weapon ‘which can unleash tsunamis’ – launches for the first time

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Strategic Shift: Often referred to by media outlets like The Jerusalem Post as an “Islamic NATO,” the alliance stems from regional desire to build an independent security umbrella away from traditional U.S. reliance. Iran and Mecca agreement – AI Mode The Mecca Agreement Unpacked | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

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The Mecca Agreement Unpacked

On August 7, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. Landmarks in Riyadh, Istanbul, and Islamabad lit up in red, white, and green—the combined main colors of the signatories’ flags—to mark the occasion. Though the text remains unpublished, the advent of such an
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The Mecca Agreement Unpacked


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On August 7, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. Landmarks in Riyadh, Istanbul, and Islamabad lit up in red, white, and green—the combined main colors of the signatories’ flags—to mark the occasion. Though the text remains unpublished, the advent of such an accord is a pivotal moment in a fast-changing region. The Mecca Agreement is an attempt by three regional powers to prevent the reemergence of a security vacuum in the Gulf of the sort created by the ongoing U.S.-Iranian conflict.  

Following the resumption of the conflict, after the ceasefire agreed in April, Iran’s assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz was the first signal of a collapsing U.S.-led security order. Tehran had not previously wielded such leverage. Moreover, the significant damage inflicted by Iranian missiles and drones on U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Gulf created a major challenge for countries that had long relied on the United States for a regional security umbrella. From Riyadh’s perspective, something had to be done.

Ankara and Islamabad were not far behind. With many in the Gulf increasingly viewing the American military presence in the region as a liability, Türkiye and Pakistan began to see an opening to replace the United States as security guarantor. Having been excluded from the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), both countries also understood that a new regional security architecture could carry economic benefits and place them firmly on the worldwide development-corridor track. Additionally, Türkiye and Pakistan grasped that there was an opportunity to expand their military-industrial complexes with Saudi funding.

Though it may have appeared sudden to some, the Mecca accord built directly on the terms of the Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA), which was signed just eight days after an Israeli airstrike targeted the leadership of Hamas in Doha, Qatar, in September 2025. The SMDA established a binding security commitment under which any aggression against either Pakistan or Saudi Arabia would be treated as aggression against both, making it the bilateral precursor to the trilateral Mecca accord. Notably, the latter, like the SMDA, does not explicitly identify an adversary. Maintaining such strategic ambiguity allows the three signatories to frame it as an instrument that aims to facilitate regional stability.

Nevertheless, the statements released by the signatories specified that the accord is “intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression.” The question is: Deterrence against whom? Iran, Israel, non-state actors, or someone else? The answer is not altogether clear.

Another question is to what extent the addition of Türkiye (and in the future perhaps Egypt or Qatar, or both) changes the character of the Mecca accord and might shape the now-three nation bloc’s perception of threats. The SMDA was based on a relatively simple security-economy equation—Pakistan’s combat-tested armed forces could be deployed to Saudi Arabia for defensive services if and when needed, while Saudi funds could provide a critical lifeline to Pakistan’s fragile economy. Ankara’s joining the bloc may well shift the focus to that of shared adversaries. Türkiye is a regional heavyweight with an eye on scaling down Israel’s hegemonic position in the Levant, whether in Syria or Lebanon, and reorienting Arab politics away from the now weakened Abraham Accords trajectory. Ankara and Islamabad cannot impact Riyadh’s relations with their respective rivals, Greece and India; but a shared focus on deterring Israeli and Iranian regional ambitions might be a sound starting point for the alliance.

It is clear that the accord could also prove useful for Türkiye and Pakistan in redefining IMEC. Announced in New Delhi at the 2023 G20 summit, IMEC undercuts both Türkiye and Pakistan by building trade routes around them. According to Pakistani officials speaking privately, IMEC was a topic of discussion in Mecca in the run-up to the emergence of the agreement. By linking defense and regional security to major infrastructure projects, Ankara and Islamabad can bolster their role in international trade routes. An alternative to IMEC that may come into focus is Iraq’s Development Road project. As this route would connect southwestern China (via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar Port) to Basra and then Türkiye and the EU, it could elicit Chinese interest and intersect with the latter’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Perhaps the most significant question remains how serious the commitment by these middle powers will be to an arrangement that seems akin to that of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In their statements, the parties stipulated that “any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all.” Would Islamabad and Ankara join Riyadh in a conflict against Iran, should the latter strike Saudi Arabia? The answer is complicated, to say the least. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan clarified that, in the event of an attack on one of the bloc’s member states, consultations between the three would determine the response.  

It is important to note that the three governments in question calibrated their messaging to present the Mecca accord as being open to those that might take an interest in joining, in addition to not being directed against any country. Türkiye was quick to announce that the accord did not interfere with its NATO obligations, and Saudi Arabia was careful to deny suggestions that the new bloc was in any way sectarian or military in nature. Pakistan stated explicitly that the pact was purely defensive and not anti-India or anti-Iran. Reactions from New Delhi and Riyadh’s rival Abu Dhabi were fairly muted and cautious. Official statements from Iran described the Mecca Agreement as a move away from the U.S. security umbrella and therefore a victory for Tehran.

One real test of the pact’s viability will be whether it translates into coordinated policy across countries where the signatories have leverage or influence. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are already believed to be working together to bring an end to U.S.-Iranian hostilities. And Türkiye is mediating between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan to resolve their outstanding border issues. Might we see greater Turkish-Saudi cooperation in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon? Ultimately, if Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye prove able to align or at least coordinate their stances on a significant number of issues, the Mecca accord could end up being looked back upon as having given birth to a new regional security order.   

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Articles and Tweets Tweets - Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

#CIA #DIA #Mossad IRAN AND MECCA

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Articles and Tweets Tweets - Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

#Iran and #Mecca agreement – AI Mode #Geopolitical Impact on Iran: Iranian officials view the agreement as a strategic victory rather than a threat. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan explicitly stated that the treaty is not aimed at Iran. Iranian media noted that a regional collective security arrangement aligns directly with Tehran’s long-standing foreign policy objectives to remove Western military presence from the Middle East. If finalized, Iran’s inclusion could fundamentally alter Middle Eastern diplomacy by integrating historic regional rivals into a single defense bloc. Key Details of the Invitation Official Status: The invitation was disclosed by Mehdi Rahimi, head of the Iranian

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Articles and Tweets Tweets - Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: ❗️The United Kingdom has authorized MBDA to transfer to Ukraine classified data on the British components of the SCALP missile (the French equivalent of Storm Shadow). This enables France and Ukraine to begin setting up assembly lines for these missiles in Ukraine.

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Articles and Tweets Tweets - Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: HOLY CRAP! A conservative Washington Examiner reporter says she uncovered 37 pages of Trump/Epstein FBI files the DOJ had apparently missed or withheld. The documents detail a woman’s allegations of 2 years of sexual abuse by Trump and Epstein, include her unredacted name and potential corroborating witnesses, and reportedly show FBI investigators viewed the claims as credible before DOJ labeled the records “duplicative” and redacted them.

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Articles and Tweets Tweets - Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: Germany is preparing a €12 billion missile arsenal to deter Russia As a first step, Berlin is considering purchasing cruise missiles, including the Ukrainian Bars and Flamingo. Germany then plans to acquire American Tomahawks and develop its own missiles jointly with Britain.

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Articles and Tweets Tweets - Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: 🔥🚨 BREAKING: General Dan “Razin” Caine reveals that A-10 WARTHOGs and Apache Gunships are being used to destroy Iranian Speed Boats and Drones. “The A-10 Warhog is now in the fight across the southern flank, hunting and KILLING fast attack water craft in the Strait of Hormuz.” “In addition, AH-64 Apaches have joined the fight on the southern flank.”