Turkey's "Mecca Pact" with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, formalized in August, creates a new Muslim-majority defense bloc. This pact, which Iran claims not to fear, is seen as a geopolitical signal given its members' reliance on US armaments. Meanwhile, Israel's August mobilization to block Turkey's F-35 return and its September bypass of Turkey in Syria raise questions about Turkey's regional security standing. Watch for Turkey's September 16 push to bring household gold into the banking system, which could impact its economic stability.