Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a historic mutual defense pact, pledging that any attack on either nation will be treated as an attack on both. The deal, announced on Wednesday, formalizes a decades-old security partnership and signals a deepened commitment to regional stability.
The agreement was sealed in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia’s capital) during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both leaders highlighted plans to expand military cooperation, enhance joint deterrence, and coordinate on international security challenges. Saudi officials stressed the pact is not directed at any single country, but rather cements long-standing cooperation. Still, questions linger over whether Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal could be drawn into the framework.
The move comes just after Arab and Islamic nations condemned Israel’s strike on Doha, adding urgency to security cooperation in the region. Despite the new pact, Saudi Arabia underlined that its rapidly growing ties with India (Pakistan’s rival) remain strong. Also, it is important to note that the two countries’ defense relationship is nothing new: since 1967, Pakistan has trained more than 8,200 Saudi troops and taken part in multiple joint exercises.
Source:
Siddiqui, U. (2025, September 17). Saudi Arabia signs mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/17/saudi-arabia-signs-mutual-defence-pact-with-nuclear-armed-pakistan