A defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signals a new security alliance intended to deter Iran, reduce dependence on the United States and send a message to Israel, analysts say. Saudi Arabia has put itself at the center of the alliance, which was formalized in Islam’s holiest city of Mecca. Pakistan has not attacked its neighbor despite signing a similar pact with Saudi Arabia last year. The new defense pact instead brings three US allies into a security framework that rejects Israeli dominance in the region, analysts said. “Washington would have wanted a security architecture that includes Israel, and they’re still keen for Saudi Arabia to normalize ties.