Journalist and writer Rana Sabbagh called for careful and attentive consideration of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement announced recently, which brought together Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. She pointed out that rapid changes in the regional system require Jordan to carefully evaluate its strategic interests away from blind alignment.

In a field analysis shared across her platforms, Sabbagh explained that the regional landscape is undergoing radical shifts, particularly after the recent war with Iran exposed the limitations of traditional American military protection guarantees for some Gulf states. This has prompted those countries to diversify their security and diplomatic options, as reflected in the recent agreement, which remains open to other willing parties.

Analyzing the Jordanian context, Sabbagh emphasized that Jordan maintains a broad and balanced network of relationships, combining its strategic partnership with the United States, excellent ties with Saudi Arabia, important relations with Turkey and Egypt, and an existing peace treaty with Israel. However, current Israeli government policies in the West Bank and unpredictable U.S. stances under the Trump administration directly threaten Jordan's security and future.

The journalist questioned the optimal choice for Jordan amid a Middle East shifting toward multi-polarity, recalling the historic stance of the late King Hussein bin Talal in 1991 when he declined to join the international military coalition against Iraq. Although Jordan paid a heavy political and economic price for years, that decision ultimately granted the country greater room for maneuver and long-term independence of position.

Sabbagh concluded by stressing that "flexibility is not weakness," but rather a potential guarantee for Jordan in a world where alliances are no longer fixed or sacred. She underscored that the real question today is not about aligning with one axis or another, but rather how to protect Jordan's supreme national interests in a turbulent and volatile regional environment.