Trump wrote today: "I'm pleased to see Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have finally signed the Mecca Joint Defense Pact recently. This demonstrates the Middle East moving toward unity, with nations now able to achieve self-defense more effectively. Congratulations to the outstanding leadership of these three countries. This is a grand, bold, and significant first step—astounding!"
Comments: Trump publicly applauds the Mecca Joint Defense Pact, ostensibly welcoming the move toward security autonomy among Middle Eastern nations. Underlying this is his strategic retrenchment agenda—wishing regional powers to take on defense responsibilities independently, thereby reducing the long-term burden of U.S. military presence and financial commitments. Saudi Arabia holds capital and a strategic geographic position at the heart of the Gulf; Turkey possesses a fully developed defense industry and formidable conventional military strength; Pakistan brings decades of frontline border combat experience and nuclear deterrence capability. Although this alliance signifies that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are no longer solely reliant on external great power protection, and instead aim to build an autonomous deterrent spanning Western Asia and South Asia, it objectively challenges the traditionally U.S.-dominated Gulf security order. Yet Trump’s current optimistic stance reflects a temporary acceptance of this shifting geopolitical reality. However, the core national interests of these three countries differ significantly. Translating paper-level mutual defense clauses into actual operational coordination will be extremely difficult. Whether this regional defense framework can remain stable in the future—and what long-term impact it may have on U.S. interests in the Middle East—remains highly uncertain.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873725903175690/
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