Saudi-UAE Rift Deepens in 2026 as Former Allies Turn Strategic Rivals
Saudi-UAE Alliance Breakdown: How MBS and MBZ Drifted Apart The Saudi-UAE alliance breakdown has emerged as one of the most significant geopolitical shifts in the Gulf in recent years. For much of the 2010s, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and President Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ) projected an image of close personal and political partnership. […]
Saudi Arabia’s Double Game in the US-Iran Crisis
Saudi Arabia’s Dual Strategy in Managing US‑Iran Tensions Public Restraint, Private Pressure: Two Faces of Saudi Policy As tensions between the United States and Iran escalated in early 2026, Saudi Arabia adopted a posture that appeared cautious, responsible, and peace-oriented. Riyadh publicly denied allowing its airspace or bases to be used for any American military […]
Turkey’s Bid to Join the Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact: A New Sunni Bloc or an Echo of Past Failures?
Turkey’s Entry into the Saudi Pakistan Defence Pact: Sunni Unity or Strategic Illusion? Turkey’s advanced discussions to enter the Saudi Pakistan defence pact signal a notable shift in Muslim-world security thinking. The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), signed on 17 September 2025, declares that aggression against one signatory will be treated as an attack on […]
Saudi Arabia Bombs STC Positions in Yemen, Fracturing Anti-Houthi Front
Saudi Airstrikes on STC Positions Signal New Phase of Yemen Conflict Saudi-led airstrikes hit positions held by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen’s Hadramout province on January 2, 2026, killing at least seven fighters and injuring more than twenty, according to reports. The strikes targeted areas around Seiyun airport and nearby military facilities, […]
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Sign Defence Pact for Joint Protection Against Aggression
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Sign Defense Pact for Joint Protection Against Aggression September 18, 2025 | Yesterday, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark mutual defence pact that formalises their long-standing military alliance. The agreement commits both nations to treat any act of aggression against either country as an attack on both, significantly strengthening […]