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🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

Mecca Alliance and Israel-Greece defense pact reflect shifting regional alliances

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Turkey hosted the first meeting of a strategic committee created under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, while Israel and Greece signed a multi-billion-dollar defense deal.
  • The analysis presents the parallel events as a symbol of changing alliances after the October 7 attack and the regional war.
  • Israel sees closer ties among Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as a potential threat while deepening cooperation with the United States and CENTCOM.

Two defense developments unfolded on Monday: Turkey hosted the first meeting of the committee established under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, while Israel and Greece signed a multi-billion-dollar defense deal.

The timing was coincidental because both initiatives had been under development for some time. But together, they offered a snapshot of a Middle East whose alliances are being reorganized after the October 7 attack and the ensuing multi-front war.

The regional picture has moved away from earlier expectations. Hopes that Saudi Arabia would join the Abraham Accords have faded as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria and other countries draw closer. Relations between Ankara and Cairo have also shifted. At the same time, the analysis says Israel has shown no flexibility on the Palestinian issue and has taken a hostile position toward Syria’s new government.

Jerusalem now views the emerging Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan alignment as a potential threat. Israel is strengthening a different security network through expanded cooperation with US Central Command. US-Israeli strikes on Iran have brought Washington and Jerusalem closer, while Iranian attacks and threats against Gulf-based US facilities have prompted the United States to move many refueling aircraft to Israel.

The changes could increase Israel’s role as a base for US forces and deepen its relationship with CENTCOM. Israel officially joined the command’s area of operations only in the past half-decade, after previously being treated as part of Europe because many regional countries had no peace with it. Its peace agreements with Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco have since provided more grounds for linking it to regional security.

is hosting the inaugural meeting of the committee, which was established to provide strategic direction for activities under the agreement and brings together the foreign ministers, defense ministers and chiefs of general staff of Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

— AnadoluThe agency described the purpose and participants of the committee’s first meeting in Turkey.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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