Turkey Seeks 3 New Security Pacts as U.S.-Iran War Sharpens Israel Rivalry
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 21
Turkey Seeks 3 New Security Pacts as U.S.-Iran War Sharpens Israel Rivalry
5 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 21
Ankara is pursuing new security partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt as it braces for a postwar regional order in which Israel emerges more assertive and the U.S. less reliable.
Turkey calls the strategy “regional ownership” — a push for Middle Eastern powers to manage their own security after the war exposed limits to U.S. protection and strained alliance politics.
The risk feels immediate for the NATO member, which shares a 350-mile border with Iran and has relied on NATO air defenses to intercept four Iranian missiles headed toward Turkish airspace since late February.
Israeli-Turkish tensions have worsened as Israel expanded strikes across Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Qatar, while Turkish officials warn against being cast as Israel’s next enemy and say they are prepared if challenged.
Analysts say Turkey lacks the economic and military weight to dictate terms alone, making mini-alliances and its uneasy relationship with Israel central to the region’s next balance of power.
As the U.S. steps back, are rivals Turkey and Israel on an unavoidable collision course for dominance over the Middle East?
Can a new Turkish-led bloc with Pakistan's nuclear arms truly secure the region, or will it just ignite a new arms race?
After the U.S.-Israel-Iran War: Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt Forge a New Regional Security Order
Overview
On February 28, 2026, the U.S.-Israel-Iran War erupted, marking a direct and extensive military campaign that immediately transformed the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. This conflict fundamentally altered the regional order, ushering in a new era of instability and urgent complexity. The war’s rapid escalation, including a deadly naval incident far from Iran’s borders, forced all regional actors—especially Turkey—to urgently re-evaluate their diplomatic and security strategies. As the situation intensified, countries faced heightened tensions and the need to adapt quickly to a dramatically changed environment, setting the stage for new alliances and security challenges across the region.