Should it be the U.S. or Iran? Is Iran trembling in fear? On August 7, Saudi Arabia signed a defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan: an attack on one country equals an attack on all three. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had already signed a mutual defense agreement last September, and now Turkey has been added to the alliance.
Regarding this trilateral defense agreement, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated: “The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all three.” Currently, all three nations face external threats of war. First, Saudi Arabia has already engaged in several rounds of combat with Houthi forces, and also faces the risk of military retaliation from Iran. Of course, Saudi Arabia is also concerned about what would happen if the U.S. insists on using its airspace and bases to strike Iran.
Turkey’s main threat stems from military tensions with Israel over the Syria issue. Previously, Israel issued a strong warning: if Turkey dares to establish a military base in Syria, Israel will directly destroy it. Thus, Turkey’s decision to sign this joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan at this time clearly reflects a desire for mutual support—Turkey is fully aware that if it enters a military conflict with Israel, the United States will undoubtedly stand firmly on Israel’s side.
The final external risk for Pakistan comes from India. Last year, India suffered a crushing defeat in aerial combat against Pakistan. However, recently India has accelerated the procurement of over 100 Rafale fighter jets, and is now preparing to find an opportunity to regain its dignity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872920393833674/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.