The US-Israeli war on Iran has redefined the regional security architecture profoundly. That architecture in the Middle East was traditionally pegged to the 'purchased security framework' led by the US. The emerging, yet to be instituted and new security architecture is transitioning away from this historic and traditional US-led bilateral and multilateral alliances mode, and is gravitating towards a multipolar, regionally owned framework, wherein the main players are increasingly hedging with global powers, seeking advantage wherever they find it. The new architecture is likely to be increasingly driven by the outcome of the war with Iran; the need for local stabilisation; localised mini-lateral coalitions and hedging. This emerging arrangement also continues to be defined by systemic conflicts, shifting American commitments to its regional allies, and the necessity of preventing global economic crisis. To achieve these objectives, regional powers are forming independent diplomatic and defence mechanisms. The core shifts and salients of the new security architecture are as follows.

First, 'Quartet' and the emergence of regional security blocs. To defuse the tense standoff between the US-Israel Combine and Iran through active diplomacy by Pakistan and facilitation by other powers, a new 'quadrilateral' security and consulting mechanism, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Türkiye, is taking shape. This 'Quartet' is trying to negotiate peace, ensure regional stability, push against Israeli operations, work for statehood recognition and counterbalance regional expansionism of the conflict by containing Iran. Its effectiveness is put to the test in holding on to the tenuous peace in the........

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