An unprecedented and shocking diplomatic earthquake has taken place in the corridors of Middle East and Asian geopolitics which has surprised the strategists and defense analysts all over the world. Amidst the rapidly changing equations in the Gulf region, when countries like Turkey and Pakistan, which traditionally stood with Saudi Arabia, started distancing themselves from Riyadh at the time of regional tension, at the last moment a country came out in open support of Saudi Arabia which no one had even imagined. This country is none other than the Jewish nation Israel, which has changed its strategic and diplomatic priorities and has made a formal proposal to provide defensive assistance and technical support to Saudi Arabia. However, Israel has put forward some very strict and clear conditions to Riyadh before extending a hand of friendship and help, which has brought a new boil in regional diplomacy. On the other hand, amidst this whole incident, discussions about Iran making a big strategic mistake due to its aggressive strategies are also gaining momentum, which may increase the difficulties for Tehran in the coming days. Indifference of Turkey and Pakistan and changing traditional equations in the Gulf For the last few decades, it has been believed in global diplomacy that the relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan within the Islamic world rest on a strong axis of brotherhood and strategic cooperation, while Turkey has also been playing a vocal role in the affairs of the Gulf from time to time. But in recent months, as the situation within the Middle East has deteriorated due to the Houthi conflict, the Yemen crisis and the complex geopolitical fronts in West Asia, Riyadh has not received the expected and solid strategic support from Turkey and Pakistan that the Saudi rulers expected. Due to internal political compulsions, economic crisis and pressure from global powers, both these countries withdrew from this sensitive regional dispute. This turning away of Turkey and Pakistan at the time of crisis came as a deep blow to the Saudi leadership, as Riyadh began to realize that traditional allies were reluctant to stand together in times of need. This diplomatic void and isolation forced Saudi Arabia to reconsider its options in West Asia and look towards other powerful countries for its security. Israel's historic step: The real diplomacy behind Saudi Arabia's offer of help. After the withdrawal of Turkey and Pakistan, the country that came to the forefront and offered security cover and modern technical assistance to Saudi Arabia is Israel. Even though formal political relations have not yet been established between Tel Aviv and Riyadh, behind-the-scenes communication between the two countries at the intelligence and defense level has been strengthening over the past few years. Israel has the world's most advanced anti-missile defense technology and intelligence systems to deal with Iran's growing regional influence, drone threats and missile attacks. Taking advantage of this, the Israeli leadership has given a message to Saudi Arabia that it is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with Riyadh to maintain stability in the Middle East. However, nothing is free in diplomacy, and Israel has put forward some major and strategic conditions to Saudi Arabia in return for this military and intelligence help, which are said to include stringent points like future regional peace agreements and a joint standoff against Iran. Has Iran made a big mistake? Tehran's growing troubles There is another big player at the center of this entire diplomatic drama, and that is Iran, which is continuously trying to expand its power in the Middle East through its proxy wars and Shia dominated influence. Analysts believe that Iran's aggressive attitude and the support it provides to Houthi and other militia groups has forced the rest of the countries in the Gulf region to unite. The way Iran-backed forces have targeted Saudi Arabia's economic and oil assets on the Yemen and Red Sea front has forced Riyadh to change its security policy. In response to this, Israel and Saudi Arabia coming closer to each other, ignoring ideological differences, is proving to be a huge strategic blow for Iran. If Tehran does not curb its aggressive regional policies in time, then in the times to come, this new axis of Israel and the Gulf countries will make it extremely difficult and challenging for Iran to survive in West Asia. The picture of the new geopolitical future of the Middle East and its impact on India The withdrawal of Turkey-Pakistan and this new growing closeness between Israel-Saudi Arabia has changed the entire geopolitical scenario of the Middle East forever. Now moving out of the traditional framework of religion and old enmities, countries are taking decisions purely on the basis of their national security, economic interests and strategic needs. This situation is very important for countries like India, because India's relations with Israel are as close as they are with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. New Delhi has always been in favor of peace and stability in the Middle East, so that India's energy security and the interests of millions of migrants living there are protected. In the coming days, it will be very interesting to see how Saudi Arabia responds to Israel's terms and whether this new alliance succeeds in establishing peace in West Asia or whether the region moves towards another major conflict.
