Turkey

Mecca pact unites Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan - but what does it mean? - opinion

The significance of the Mecca pact will depend less on the language of the agreement than on its implementation.

TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, next to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, on August 7, 2026.
(Front row, L/R) Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, hosted by US President Donald Trump.

Eight Arab, Islamic nations accuse Israel of derailing Trump's Gaza peace plan

Iranian Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) take part in a training session at a base on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq February 12, 2026.

Kurdish disappointment is a bigger story than Ocalan’s rhetoric - opinion

Israelis from Kurdish origin take part in a rally in support of the Kurdish referendum outside the American consulate in Jerusalem September 24, 2017

Kurds are not a proxy. We are a nation without a front - opinion


International Arab Book Fair emerges as platform for Islamist axis, Hamas support

During the event, the secretary general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), a Muslim Brotherhood organization operating from Qatar, called for aid to be transferred to Gaza.

People visit the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair at the Qatari capital's exhibition and convention center, on May 15, 2026.

The new crescent: Mecca pact gives rise to a Saudi-led Sunni bloc, posing new challenges for Israel

BEHIND THE LINES: Anti-Israel statements of the emergent alliance between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are not just rhetoric. Rather, they form an integral element in its strategy.

TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, pose after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca last Friday.

My Word: It’s a funny old world - opinion

The “baby-killer” blood libel is by now so entrenched that it’s almost impossible to set the record straight, but a UNICEF-led report published last week showed the extent of the lies and hypocrisy.

Ireland's new government jet, which lacks the Elbit-manufactured FalconEye technology that allows it to land in fog.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan forge new alliance as Middle East order shifts - analysis

The new emergence of an alliance between what may be termed “middle powers” in the region illustrates how countries want to work closely together amid growing uncertainty over the future of the world

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pose after signing a joint defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, August 7, 2026.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan to build joint political and military pact mechanisms

The three countries signed the "Mecca Joint Defense Agreement" on August 7, uniting Sunni-Muslim US allies concerned about a regional conflagration that has brought Iranian missile fire to the Gulf.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is received by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of the expected signing of a defence deal between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, August 7, 2026.

Saudi Arabia bets on defensive alliances to deter slide into war - analysis

Riyadh faces a dilemma: how to deter attacks and protect the ambitious economic vision it is pursuing without becoming entangled in a broader conflict in the region.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is received by Deputy Governor of Mecca region, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz upon his arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, August 6, 2026.

Israel warned US about Iran's plans to kill Trump on Air Force One, aided his escape - report

According to the report, following the threat, Trump initially boarded, in full view of the media, an aircraft that had previously served as Air Force One.

US President Donald Trump gestures as he participates in a bilateral meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (not pictured) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, July 14, 2026

Saudi Arabia’s new defense pact reflects anxiety, not strength - opinion

Rather than projecting confidence, the deal with Pakistan and Turkey reflects Saudi Arabia’s search for additional security guarantees in the face of Iran’s growing regional influence.

TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, next to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, on August 7, 2026.

The US-Saudi nuclear deal: Don’t settle, renegotiate - opinion

Once Washington greenlights nuclear fuel-making for Saudi Arabia, the spread won’t stop there. Iran will want to follow suit, which could lead to the UAE and Abu Dhabi wanting in on it, too.

US President Donald Trump, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Elon Musk pose with others for a family picture during the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, November 19, 2025.

Turkey, Trump threats and a US pledge to Israel

The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Shifra Jacobs - the top stories, clear and concise. 

US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, August 7, 2026