Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a joint defence pact. It is an alliance that analysts say highlights Riyadh’s desire to diversify its defence partnerships, expanding to Ankara and Islamabad. The trilateral Mecca pact raises questions about the effectiveness of the decades-long US military presence in the Gulf. Does this alliance offer a viable alternative to the security umbrella promised by Washington? Presenter: Anna Burns-FrancisGuests:Abdulaziz Alghashian – Senior non-resident fellow at the Gulf International ForumDavid Des Roches – Professor at the Thayer Marshall InstituteZaid M Belbagi – Managing partner at Hardcastle Advisory