By Eniola Amadu
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a landmark mutual defence pact, formalising decades of military cooperation at a time of heightened regional instability.
The agreement was sealed in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in attendance.
The deal represents a major step in strengthening security ties between the two nations, with both sides describing it as the “institutionalisation” of their long-standing partnership.
A senior Saudi official, speaking to Reuters, said the pact was not a reaction to recent events but rather the culmination of years of negotiations.
However, the timing comes amid shifting regional dynamics. Gulf Arab states have grown increasingly concerned about the reliability of the United States as their traditional security guarantor.
Those fears escalated after Israel’s airstrikes on Doha last week, which targeted Hamas leaders during ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar. The attacks drew widespread condemnation across the Arab world and underscored the fragile security environment.
The pact stipulates that an attack on either nation would be regarded as aggression against both, committing them to joint deterrence measures.
While questions have been raised about whether Pakistan’s nuclear capability could extend protection to Saudi Arabia, officials in Riyadh said the agreement covers “all military means” without specifying nuclear guarantees.
For Islamabad, the pact provides a strategic boost just months after its brief military clash with India in May.
New Delhi has reacted cautiously. India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said that the government was studying the development and its implications for India’s security and regional stability.
The Saudi official acknowledged the delicate balance of Riyadh’s relationships, stressing that ties with India — also a nuclear power — remain “more robust than ever” and that the kingdom seeks peace across the region
A statement from Pakistan’s prime minister’s office described the agreement as a reflection of the “shared commitment of both nations to strengthen defence cooperation and preserve peace in the region and the world.”
