Wadah Khanfar: Alliance of Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and the Arab World is a Strategic Necessity

Historical Necessity for a Regional Bloc Wadah Khanfar, former director of Al Jazeera and senior geopolitical analyst, stated in an interview with the media outlet İslami Analiz that current political and security structures in the region no longer respond to the complex threats of the 21st century. He emphasized that given the rapid changes in the global balance of power and competition between major poles such as the United States, China, and Russia, regional countries must seek to create a "powerful core" [1]. In his view, this alliance must include four main pillars—Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and the Arab world—to withstand external pressures.

Key Role of Non-Arab Powers in Regional Stability In his analysis, Khanfar insists that without the active presence of Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan, any plan for stability in the Arab world will be incomplete. He noted that Turkey as an industrial power and NATO member, Iran as a major energy power with regional influence, and Pakistan as the only Muslim nuclear power, alongside the wealth and spiritual status of Arab countries, could form the world's most powerful political-economic bloc [2]. He believes that past religious and political differences should not prevent the realization that the fates of these actors are intertwined.

Geopolitical Challenges and Strategic Independence in 2026 On the sidelines of recent Sharq Forum meetings, Khanfar addressed the fact that dependence on foreign security umbrellas in past decades has only led to instability and proxy wars [3]. He argues that 2026 is a turning point in regional history, where economic crises and climate change have transformed cross-border cooperation from a diplomatic proposal into a "strategic compulsion" [1]. He called on the leaders of these countries to reduce their dependence on international systems that often act against their interests by creating joint financial and military institutions.

Future Outlook: From Idea to Execution Although critics point to conflicts of interest between Tehran, Ankara, and Riyadh, Khanfar believes that the "logic of survival" will ultimately prevail over differences. He emphasized that intellectual elites and the region's youth must be the drivers of this movement, looking beyond nationalist borders for a common identity in the form of the "Al Sharq" region [2]. According to him, the formation of this alliance will not only bring peace back to the Middle East but will also shift the balance of power at the international level [3].