UAE Analyst's Criticism of Saudi Defense Pact Draws Response from Saudi Prince

A new defense agreement signed on August 7 between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan has ignited a public dispute between prominent figures in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, highlighting differing views on regional security cooperation.

The "Joint Defense Agreement of Mecca" binds the three nations, stipulating that an armed attack against one party will be considered an attack against all. This pact has drawn sharp criticism from several UAE commentators who question whether Riyadh is shifting its security focus away from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a bloc comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a political analyst and former advisor to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, has been particularly vocal. He has repeatedly questioned the rationale behind the new alliance. "Congratulations on the formation of this alliance, but strengthening the military and political cooperation of the Gulf region and unifying the Gulf internally is far more important than investing in regional military and political cooperation involving countries whose credibility and ability to confront the Iran-Israel threat are not taken seriously," Abdulla wrote on the platform X, questioning the identification of a common enemy for the alliance.

His remarks quickly drew a response from Saudi Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaid. The prince asserted that the agreement falls under national sovereignty and questioned why UAE academics seemed so troubled by Riyadh's strategic choices. "What is the problem, whether it is called an alliance, agreement, deal, or whatever name?" the prince posted on X. "How can this conflict with efforts to unify the Gulf region? Does every country not have the right to make agreements with any country as it sees fit to achieve its interests?"