If the Trump Administration fails to act, the Saudi–Pakistan defense pact could become more than just a bilateral agreement. Regional heavyweights Egypt and Turkey, which were also at Tuesday’s meeting, are similarly very concerned about an Israeli-dominated Middle Eastern order. The pact could become the nucleus for other Islamic defense accords—undermining Trump’s signature foreign-policy achievement: the Abraham Accords.
Rather than expanding the Abraham Accords and paving the way for further normalization between Israel and Arab nations, unchecked Israeli overreach will drive America’s Arab and Muslim allies into parallel security arrangements of their own.
The choice before Washington is stark. Reassure America’s Gulf allies and contain Israel within its legitimate borders—or risk watching America’s security architecture in the Middle East unravel.
