Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt unite as Middle East power brokers amid US abandonment fears

A new diplomatic bloc comprising Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt is emerging in the Middle East, driven by fear of US abandonment. According to Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of defence studies at King's College London who previously advised Qatar's armed forces on behalf of the UK defence ministry, this fear is pushing states to build diplomatic mass, though an integrated military bloc like an 'Islamic Nato' is not yet feasible. Krieg describes a 'mixed system' where multilateral formats handle grand strategic questions while hard security remains dominated by Washington and Tehran's proxy network. The four nations are 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 regional partners, especially Riyadh. The report references an Israeli air strike on Doha, Qatar on September 9, 2025, as context for regional tensions.