The Middle East’s new power brokers? Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt unite

In the aftermath of the US-Israel war on Iran, a new geopolitical alignment is emerging in the Middle East, led by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan. This 'regional coordination framework' is driven by a shared conviction that the post-war order should not be dictated solely by the US-Israel alliance or Iran's battered 'Axis of Resistance.' According to Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at King's College London, 'fear of US abandonment' is pushing these states to build diplomatic mass, even if an integrated military bloc remains elusive. The group is pressing for a negotiated settlement to the Iran war, with Pakistan playing a dual role as mediator between Tehran and Washington and as a trusted representative for its regional partners, especially Riyadh.

This coalition stretches from the Gulf across the Caucasus to Central and South Asia, binding countries with overlapping interests and interlocking partnerships. While the hard security balance remains dominated by Washington and what survives of Tehran's proxy network, this new framework signals a shift toward multilateral formats handling grand strategic questions. Krieg describes it as 'a mixed system' where diplomatic coordination increasingly shapes the region's future. The bloc's emergence reflects a broader trend of regional powers seeking greater autonomy, though experts caution against expecting a formal 'Islamic NATO' anytime soon. The group's immediate focus is on leveraging its collective influence to secure a stable post-war settlement.