Saudi Arabia finds itself facing a setback on two fronts — the Mecca agreement on one side, and its assumed reliance on US backing on the other. While Saudi Arabia had counted on the United States to stand by it against Houthi attacks, Washington has stepped back, and Pakistan, which Riyadh believed would offer support under the Mecca agreement, has also distanced itself, pointing out that the pact makes no mention of military assistance — leaving Saudi Arabia caught between both, with support forthcoming from neither.
Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia continue unabated. The Houthis have been targeting the kingdom over the belief that Saudi territory has been made available for American airstrikes against Iran. However, the United States, which Saudi Arabia expected to stand by it in this moment, has backed away, making clear it has no plans to launch direct strikes against the Houthis. Pakistan, for its part, cited the Mecca agreement and clarified that the pact contains no provision for providing military assistance against attacks by groups such as the Houthis. These attacks have already forced Saudi Arabia to shut down one of its key pipelines, yet the Houthi attacks have not stopped — the group has gone on to warn that it will also block Saudi Arabia’s main shipping route through the Red Sea.
Large-scale drone attacks from the Houthis continue. With Iran creating obstructions in the Strait of Hormuz at the same time, the Houthis’ attempt to disrupt the Red Sea route has escalated into a major crisis, leaving Saudi Arabia appearing to be in serious trouble. A country long recognised as the leading power in the Islamic world for decades, Saudi Arabia now appears isolated and weakened — with the US declining to help on one side, and Pakistan withholding support on the other. It is notable that Pakistan has stepped back in this manner despite the two countries having signed the Mecca agreement only a few months ago, under which an attack on either country would be treated as an attack on both, with Turkey having since also joined the pact. Yet Pakistan’s tendency to avoid involvement following the attack on Saudi Arabia stands out.
Michael Ratney, a former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said recent developments have heightened anxiety within the Saudi kingdom, adding that Saudi Arabia may no longer be able to regard the United States as a reliable partner. He said Donald Trump is unwilling to open another front of war in the Middle East. Iran’s hand is believed to be behind these developments as well — the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah are all considered Iran-backed rebel groups. Experts believe that after its grip on the Strait of Hormuz loosened, Iran has now stepped up pressure on Saudi Arabia through the Houthis.
Has Saudi Arabia Been Left Isolated?
Following the strikes carried out by Israel and the US, Iran is known to have attacked countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. In this way, Iran has once again compounded Saudi Arabia’s troubles, yet the kingdom has so far received no support from any country. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has worked intensively for years to transform Saudi Arabia into a modern, developed economy. While he envisions turning the kingdom into a global business hub, certain weaknesses have become apparent in military matters, and their impact has now begun to surface.
Shifting Circumstances In Saudi Arabia
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in particular, completely altered the regional landscape. Israel’s ferocious retaliation against Palestine following that attack has claimed nearly a hundred thousand lives, leaving Gaza entirely devastated and reduced to uninhabitable rubble. The conflict subsequently spread as far as Iran, drawing strikes there as well, and the impact of the ongoing Iran-Israel war is now clearly visible on Saudi Arabia. Even so, the United States is not prepared to widen the war further for Saudi Arabia’s sake. Pakistan, meanwhile, has also stepped back, citing the terms of the Mecca agreement as its shield. Despite presenting itself as a nuclear-armed nation and continuing to court Muslim countries in an effort to attract investment, Pakistan has not come forward to actually assist those nations when needed. As a result, it appears likely that Saudi Arabia will now turn its attention toward alternative options.