PNN – Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a strategic defense pact in Riyadh, emphasizing the expansion of their security and military cooperation; a pact that has attracted the attention of international observers amid rising regional tensions, especially the Gaza war and Israeli attacks.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif signed a strategic mutual defense pact in Riyadh. According to the pact, any attack on one of the two countries will be considered an attack on the other, and the two sides committed to using all defense and military means to counter any common threat.
A senior Saudi official told the Financial Times that the aim of the agreement was to “strengthen the deterrence capabilities” of the two countries, adding: Any aggression against one will be considered an aggression against the other. This comprehensive agreement will include all defensive tools, depending on the type of threat.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also announced in a statement that the agreement was signed based on “decades of historical partnership and Islamic solidarity” and aims to strengthen regional security and defense cooperation.
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According to the ministry, the new agreement reflects the joint commitment of Riyadh and Islamabad to achieving peace and stability in the region and the world.
The agreement comes as tensions in the Middle East have risen following an Israeli airstrike on the capital of Qatar and an escalation in the war in Gaza. Saudi Arabia, which previously sought a defense agreement with the United States, is now seeking to diversify its security partners by moving closer to its nuclear ally, Pakistan.
The fact that Pakistan’s army chief, Marshal Asim Munir, accompanied the prime minister on his trip to Riyadh demonstrates the military significance of the agreement. However, some observers, including former US special representative for Afghanistan peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, have raised questions about the motives and consequences of the pact.
In response to the signing of this agreement, he asked whether this action was a sign of Saudi Arabia’s distrust of American defense support or a direct response to Israeli attacks in the region.
While the full details of the agreement have not yet been released, Saudi officials have emphasized that its signing was not directed against any specific country and was done solely to institutionalize the strategic relations between Riyadh and Islamabad.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long-standing close political, economic and military ties. Riyadh has always been one of Islamabad’s main economic supporters and has provided financial and energy assistance to the country in times of crisis. On the other hand, Pakistan, with its nuclear capabilities and one of the largest armies in the Islamic world, has always been an important defense partner for Saudi Arabia.
Thousands of Pakistani military personnel have been trained and stationed on Saudi soil over the past decades. Military cooperation between the two countries has included joint training, sharing of security intelligence and logistical support. However, this is the first time the two sides have signed a formal strategic mutual defense pact.