Map: Geopolitical Alliances in the Middle East

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Public attention remains fixed on Iran and its “Axis of Resistance” network of proxies, most prominently Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

Yet less visible, and arguably more consequential, is the silent axis between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This partnership may evolve into what strategist call the “Hexagon alliance,” with ambitions that extend to a bid for regional primacy.

In response to these competing bids for influence, a countervailing Sunni alignment has begun to coalesce, linking Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye, and Egypt. This emerging bloc, the “Sunni Diamond alliance,” seeks to balance both Iranian expansion and the disruptive potential of an Israeli-UAE axis.

The picture is further complicated by the relationships both the Hexagon and the Diamond blocs maintain with their external patron, the United States. While the Trump administration has leaned toward disruption, more cautious voices in Washington warn that escalating frictions among US allies and partners may signal the emergence of a post-American regional order.

Meanwhile, China is beginning to make its growing weight felt. Through quiet mediation efforts between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Beijing adds yet another layer to an already fluid and contested regional landscape.