On September 17, 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia formalized a decades-long partnership by signing the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, a landmark pact that pledges mutual support against external aggression. Signed during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the agreement marks a significant step in deepening the security, military, and economic ties between the two nations. This coalition, rooted in shared faith, strategic interests, and economic interdependence, has sparked global attention, particularly in light of recent regional tensions and shifting geopolitical alignments.
A Historic Partnership
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed close ties for decades, underpinned by shared Islamic values, military cooperation, and economic support. Saudi Arabia, the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, has been a key supplier of oil to Pakistan, often providing financial bailouts during Pakistan’s economic crises, including loans and deferred oil payments. Pakistan, the Muslim world’s only nuclear-armed state, has long deployed troops to Saudi Arabia, with an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers currently providing operational, technical, and training support to the Saudi military.
The Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement elevates this relationship by declaring that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” This binding clause, signed in the presence of senior officials including Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, signals a formalized military framework aimed at enhancing joint deterrence and regional stability. The agreement also includes provisions for defense industry collaboration, technology transfer, and military co-production, further strengthening bilateral ties.
Regional Context and Timing
The timing of the pact, coming just days after an Israeli airstrike on Doha, Qatar, on September 9, 2025, which killed six people and targeted Hamas leaders, has fueled speculation about its strategic implications. The strike, condemned by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as an act of “brutal aggression,” prompted an emergency summit of Arab and Muslim nations hosted by Qatar, attended by nearly 60 members of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Saudi-Pakistan agreement reflects growing anxieties in the Gulf over the reliability of the United States as a security guarantor, particularly after the Biden administration’s failure to provide a formal security guarantee to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Analysts suggest that while the pact was likely the result of years of negotiations, its announcement amid heightened Middle Eastern tensions sends a clear message of deterrence. Huma Baqai, a Pakistani foreign affairs expert, noted that the agreement “will have a long-term impact on the power matrix of both South Asia and the Middle East.” For Saudi Arabia, aligning with a nuclear-armed Pakistan provides a potential nuclear umbrella, a factor that has reignited speculation about Riyadh’s strategic calculations in a volatile region.
Implications for Regional Security
The Saudi-Pakistan defense pact has significant implications for regional and global geopolitics. For Pakistan, the agreement bolsters its standing as a capable Muslim power and provides economic opportunities through increased trade, technology sharing, and potential exports like the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet to Saudi Arabia. This is particularly critical as Pakistan navigates a prolonged macroeconomic crisis, having recently secured loan packages from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
For Saudi Arabia, the pact strengthens its security architecture at a time when Gulf states are wary of U.S. reliability. The kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify its economy, benefits from stable partnerships like the one with Pakistan, a reliable ally with a proven military track record. The agreement also positions Saudi Arabia to hedge its bets amid cautious rapprochement with Israel, particularly as Pakistan’s vocal criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and Iran aligns with Riyadh’s broader regional stance.
India’s Response and Broader Concerns
The pact has raised concerns in India, Pakistan’s long-standing rival, which fought a brief but intense conflict with Pakistan in May 2025 over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded cautiously, stating it would “study the implications” of the agreement for national security and regional stability. Analysts argue that the pact could complicate India’s security calculus, given Saudi Arabia’s role as a major oil supplier (providing 16–20% of India’s crude oil imports) and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities. However, Saudi officials have emphasized that the agreement is not targeted at any specific country or event, but rather a culmination of long-standing discussions.
The agreement also raises questions about the potential for a broader “Islamic NATO,” a concept that has gained traction amid regional crises. The symbolic alignment of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, representing the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites and the Muslim world’s only nuclear power, could inspire other Muslim-majority nations to pool military resources against common threats.
Economic and Strategic Opportunities
Beyond security, the pact opens avenues for economic collaboration. Experts suggest that Pakistan could benefit from increased jobs, technology transfers, and exports to Saudi Arabia, aligning with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals of financial inclusion and economic diversification. Initiatives like the partnership between Pakistani fintech startup ABHI and a Saudi cloud-based platform to launch Earned Wage Access (EWA) services in the kingdom underscore the broadening scope of bilateral cooperation.
Conclusion
The Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia marks a pivotal moment in their historic partnership, formalizing decades of military and economic ties into a robust alliance. As regional tensions escalate and global alignments shift, this coalition not only strengthens joint deterrence but also reshapes the geopolitical landscape of South Asia and the Middle East. While the pact offers Pakistan economic and strategic leverage and provides Saudi Arabia with a reliable nuclear-armed ally, it also introduces new complexities for regional players like India and global powers like the United States. As both nations navigate these dynamics, their alliance is poised to play a defining role in promoting stability and deterrence in an increasingly uncertain world.
