maxpane
Elite Member
its happening now we like it or not .I think we should keep a distance from Syria for now.
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its happening now we like it or not .I think we should keep a distance from Syria for now.
I think that's what will happen, let these 3 countries create a framework on how this alliance will work, first we have to see some changes in ground, some joint ventures, major exercises, asset deployments, then feel free to reach out to others (Egypt/Qatar/Kuwait).Keep all these numpties out. Just keep it to 3 for quite some time until some stability and viability of this pact is actually made tangible.
But it's not like they care what you or I say.
The meeting? Yes, but it won't be anything significant, and like I said we should not hasten things with Syria, as the situation there is still very uncertain and fragile.its happening now we like it or not .
Nothing new. It doesn't exactly mean that expanding the pact will be the main subject being discussed.They added Egypt interesting, i think the Turkiye is eager to add Egypt given its location and standing among the GCC military, we have seen some military drills between Turkiye and Egypt, but lets see how that all comes together.
| Regional Four (R-4) | Date & Location | Meeting | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-4 #1 | 18/19 March 2026 — Riyadh | First R-4 consultation | Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt met for the first R-4 consultation. |
| R-4 #2 | 29 March 2026 — Islamabad | Second meeting | The second R-4 meeting was held in Islamabad. Pakistan's Foreign Office explicitly confirmed this sequence. |
| R-4 #3 | 18 April 2026 — Antalya | Third meeting | The third meeting took place on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Pakistan's Foreign Office later explicitly referred to it as the third R-4 meeting. |
| R-4 #4 | 21 June 2026 — Cairo | Fourth meeting | The fourth meeting of the R-4 foreign ministers was held in Cairo. |
The US provides Egypt with around $1.3 billion annually in military financing.... Saudi have given 10s of billions to Egypt to boost their military since Morsi got kicked out. How else can they afford all those new birds they are flying from half a dozen countries. ...
The meeting? Yes, but it won't be anything significant, and like I said we should not hasten things with Syria, as the situation there is still very uncertain and fragile.
Israel will have issues with Turkiye with or without Syria, but yes they are seeing Turkish military presence in Syria as "Threat". But Pakistan should be careful when dealing with Syria, the current leadership of Syria is walking on a crack glass, they are mostly ex-AQ. And if they breach whatever agreement they have with Israel it will be bad for them, Syrian deserve peace after a long devastating Civil war, and Pakistan needs to take every step carefully.The Israeli recent attacks in Syria, which Pakistan has condemned, along with the Syrian diplomats coming to Pakistan are significant development. Turkey has its foothold in Syria--something which is really bugging the presume next PM of Israel Naftali Bennet. Syria doesn't have to join the tri-party alliance of KSA-Turkey-Pak yet but the visit is very important.
No one can touch israel, and pakistan certainly cant!Israel attacks a base with Turks on it. What's gonna happen now, crickets? Litmus test failed I guess.
nothing, you have to swallow the punches until you are ready to punch back. it is emotionally damaging but necessity if you want to gain something, in next few years when some new equipment and assets start fielding massively we will see different posture, right now there is no other option beside patience and slow build up while cleaning messy residues of past mistakes. this pact is first structured effort by muslims to step on global stage in independent manner as possible and by principle it should be supported but it would be delusional to expect some visible yielded results on field before structure mature by itself and produce qualitative frameworks and capabilities powerful enough to be reckon as force for itself on world stage.Israel attacks a base with Turks on it. What's gonna happen now, crickets? Litmus test failed I guess.
This is how great powers decline' | Fareed's Take
'We will tear you to pieces': Indian general warns Erdogan about pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan
Retired Maj.-Gen. Gagan Deep Bakshi says India needs Iran as a counterweight to Pakistan and will not sacrifice its interests to accommodate Israel.
AUGUST 20, 2026 11:47
Retired Indian Maj.-Gen. Gagan Deep Bakshi warned that the growing alignment among Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan could pose a strategic threat to India, while stressing that New Delhi would not sacrifice its ties with Iran to accommodate Israel’s security concerns.
Speaking to the New Delhi-based network, Republic World, Bakshi argued that the emergence of what he calls a "Sunni NATO" in the Middle East is a source of strategic concern for India.
At the same time, he sent a clear message to Israel: The alliance between the two countries is important, but New Delhi will not give up its interests with Iran simply because of the war between Jerusalem and Tehran.
According to Bakshi, the agreement that took shape in Mecca among Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan has created a new regional reality from India's perspective. "A Sunni NATO comprising Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan has been established in the Middle East, in Mecca, and that is a serious cause for concern," he said.
Bakshi stressed that, from India's perspective, Shi'ite Iran serves as an important counterweight to Pakistan.
Iran as a counterweight to Pakistan
"We very much need Shi'ite Iran to be on our side because Pakistan is our primary security headache. China may be the main threat, but together with it, Pakistan is our biggest security headache," he said.
Bakshi compared the threat Iran represents in Israel's eyes with that posed by Pakistan from India's perspective.
"Iran does not have even a single nuclear bomb, and yet it is perceived as an existential threat to Israel. And what about Pakistan? A fundamentalist, jihadist Islamic state that possesses 180 nuclear warheads," he claimed.
He added that India had not seen Israel display similar concern over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
"We have not seen Israel losing sleep over the bombs in Pakistan's hands because they are considered a threat only to India," he said.
According to Bakshi, the rapprochement between Ankara and Islamabad is not merely theoretical. He cited Turkish assistance to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, claiming that Turkey supplied it with nearly 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles and helped operate them.
"This was already a 'Sunni NATO,' with or without an agreement. Turkey and Pakistan are already in an undeclared practical alliance," he said.
Bakshi also noted that during the confrontation, Turkey sent a warship to the port of Karachi, arguing that this was another expression of the close security ties between the two countries.
"Turkey has the largest army in NATO," he said, while questioning its ability to intervene directly in a war between India and Pakistan because of the geographical distance.
According to Bakshi, any Turkish force attempting to come to Pakistan's aid would have to travel through the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Sea.
"The Indian Navy can tear apart any Turkish armada that tries to come to Pakistan's aid," he said.
India will not sacrifice its interests with Iran
A central part of Bakshi's remarks was directed squarely at Israel. He stressed that India views Israel as a friend, but would not agree to subordinate its own interests to Israeli needs, particularly when it comes to Iran.
"I am afraid that at some point Israel will also have to be sensitive to Indian concerns," he said. "We are not the 51st state of the United States, and for that matter we are also not an appendage or client state of Israel. We are friends, certainly. But vassals? No, sir."
"You cannot simply whistle and make our senior leaders go here and there, and ask us to sacrifice our interests," he said.
Bakshi specifically addressed possible pressure on India to distance itself from Iran because of the war.
"You cannot tell us: Throw Iran away because you are at war with it. When it comes to Iran, you cannot ask us to sacrifice our interests."
According to Bakshi, relations with Iran are vital to India economically and geostrategically as well. He pointed to the possibility of purchasing Iranian oil at low prices, refining it at Indian refineries, and subsequently exporting the products to other markets.
Beyond that, he stressed Iran's importance as an overland route for India.
"Iran provides India with the land bridge to Central Asia and the land bridge to Afghanistan, and these are of vital importance to us."
India cannot afford to give up those routes because of the war between Israel and Iran, he said.
"We cannot close these land routes because Israel is at war with Iran."
Bakshi concluded that the friendship between India and Israel remains important, but that from New Delhi's perspective, it has clear limits when major security and economic interests are at stake. Against the backdrop of growing ties between Turkey and Pakistan, and Indian concerns over a broader Sunni alliance, he believes that India's relationship with Iran is becoming more important, not less.
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Indian general warns Sunni NATO could threaten New Delhi ties | The Jerusalem Post
Retired Maj.-Gen. Gagan Deep Bakshi says India needs Iran as a counterweight to Pakistan and will not sacrifice its interests to accommodate Israel.www.jpost.com
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