Israeli paper says Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan defense pact could pressure normalization with Tel Aviv

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's Jerusalem Post reported that a joint defense agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan could complicate Tel Aviv's efforts to normalize relations with Riyadh. The paper pointed to Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif's call for a "joint military front" against Israel, saying Saudi Arabia's entry into a defense partnership with countries that identify Israel as a regional adversary raises questions about the future of normalization. The Jerusalem Post advised Tel Aviv to keep its dialogue channel with Riyadh open and to accelerate efforts to bring Saudi Arabia into a U.S.-led regional security framework. It also told Washington that Saudi Arabia's pursuit of alternative security arrangements through Ankara and Islamabad signals weakening confidence in American security commitments. Under the agreement signed Friday in Mecca, an armed attack on any of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all three, with the pact aiming to strengthen joint deterrence and defense cooperation. The summit was attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.