Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a landmark mutual defence agreement, formalising decades of security cooperation at a time of mounting instability across the Middle East and South Asia.
Announced Wednesday in the Saudi capital, the accord was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, also present. The agreement commits both nations to collective defence, pledging that an attack on either country would be considered an attack on both.
“This agreement reflects the shared commitment of both nations to strengthen defence cooperation and joint deterrence against any form of aggression,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
The signing comes amid growing doubts among Gulf states over the United States’ long-standing role as their primary security guarantor. Those concerns have intensified following Israeli airstrikes on Doha last week, which targeted Hamas officials during ceasefire talks brokered by Qatar, drawing widespread condemnation from across the Arab world.
A senior Saudi official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said the defence pact was not a response to recent events but the result of years of strategic dialogue. “This is the institutionalization of a deep and long-standing partnership,” the official said.
The agreement also follows renewed tensions in South Asia. In May, Pakistan and India engaged in a brief military standoff. While New Delhi has not issued a formal response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs noted it was monitoring the development closely.
“We are aware of the agreement and will study its implications for India’s security and regional stability,” ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.
Asked whether the pact includes a nuclear dimension, the Saudi official described it as a “comprehensive defensive agreement encompassing all military means,” but declined to comment further.
The Saudi official also acknowledged India’s regional importance, stating, “Our relationship with India is more robust than ever. This agreement does not come at the expense of our broader regional partnerships.”
Footage broadcast on Pakistani state television (PTV) showed Prince Mohammed and Prime Minister Sharif embracing after the signing, a gesture widely seen as symbolising deepening bilateral ties. The agreement follows months of high-level security coordination between Riyadh and Islamabad, including joint exercises and intelligence sharing.
Analysts say the pact could reshape the region’s defence architecture, potentially reducing Gulf reliance on Western military support while deepening strategic ties with Pakistan — a nuclear-armed nation with one of the world’s largest standing armies.
The agreement comes as Gulf monarchies attempt to navigate an increasingly complex landscape, balancing ties with both Iran and Israel, while facing ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Yemen, and Syria.
With both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan facing heightened security threats, the mutual defence accord is seen as a strategic bulwark aimed at ensuring long-term stability and deterring external aggression across the Middle East and South Asia.
