A defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan establishes a new security alliance seeking to deter a bellicose Iran, offset an unreliable U.S. and send a message to Israel, analysts say.

As the Middle East war drags on, this alliance binds three Sunni powers ¡ª all allies of the United States ¡ª with a NATO-style clause that considers any attack on one country as an attack on all.

Analysts doubt this provision will be enforced immediately, however, as the trio seeks a resolution to the war, with Pakistan and Turkey acting as intermediaries.