Image: from Saud Salman AlDossary | سعود بن سلمان الدوسري X@999saudsalman
By José Carlos Palma | Editor-in-Chief*
Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) formalized a new stage in their enduring military alliance with the signing of a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) on September 17, 2025, reaffirming decades of defense cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh. The pact reinforces previous commitments dating back to the 1960s and underscores the principle that “aggression against either country shall be considered aggression against both.”
Although some analysts have speculated that the agreement provides Saudi Arabia with access to Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence, officials and experts emphasize that this is not a nuclear alliance. Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine remains India-specific and does not extend to offering a nuclear umbrella to any other state. Instead, the pact consolidates a long-standing strategic relationship and focuses on enhancing joint defense capabilities, interoperability, and regional stability.
Not just allies, but guarantors 🇸🇦🇵🇰
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign a strategic mutual defence pact that could redraw the regional security map.
The agreement marks a shift from longstanding cooperation to a formalised structure of collective defence. pic.twitter.com/BxnUTjedDo
— Saud Salman AlDossary | سعود بن سلمان الدوسري (@999saudsalman) September 17, 2025
A Historic Partnership Reaffirmed
The military cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is not new. Under the 1967 defense protocol, Pakistan has safeguarded Saudi borders and continues to deploy between 1,500 and 2,000 troops to provide operational and technical assistance. Over the years, more than 10,000 Saudi personnel have been trained by Pakistan’s armed forces.
The new SMDA builds upon these existing frameworks, formalizing a comprehensive security partnership that expands collaboration in emerging defense technologies, including cybersecurity, drone systems, and space-based defense platforms. It also paves the way for joint production and technology transfer within the defense industry.
Regional Context and Strategic Significance
The timing of the agreement reflects shifting regional dynamics. Following the Israeli airstrike on Hamas leadership in Doha on September 9, 2025, which took place near the U.S. Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, many Gulf states began questioning Washington’s reliability as a regional security guarantor. The U.S. inaction following the strike has reportedly weakened Arab trust in its commitment to their defense.
In this environment, Pakistan emerges as a natural and trusted partner for Saudi Arabia. Both nations share deep-rooted historical, religious, and strategic ties. Around 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates live and work in Saudi Arabia, contributing over $6 billion annually in remittances to Pakistan’s economy. The Kingdom, in turn, supplies Pakistan with vital oil imports and financial support, including a $3 billion loan in December 2024 that bolstered Islamabad’s foreign reserves.
Strategic and Diplomatic Implications
The defense pact enhances Pakistan’s strategic depth and regional influence, expanding its role beyond South Asia and positioning it as a key actor in the broader Muslim world’s security framework. It also strengthens Islamabad’s deterrence posture by adding Riyadh’s political and strategic weight to Pakistan’s defense architecture.
For Saudi Arabia, the agreement provides greater strategic autonomy amid uncertainty regarding Western security commitments. The pact underscores a Muslim-led approach to regional stability, one that prioritizes cooperation, deterrence, and mutual defense among Islamic nations.
Interestingly, the deal also received positive acknowledgment from Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian during the 80th UN General Assembly, who viewed it as a step toward building a broader, cooperative security system in the region, an indication that the pact may not be seen as destabilizing by Tehran.
Looking Ahead
While the agreement does not create a NATO-style collective defense structure or extend nuclear deterrence, it formalizes joint deterrence commitments and enhances military readiness and interoperability between the two countries. It also reflects both states’ desire to reduce reliance on Western security guarantees and to foster regional defense self-sufficiency.
In essence, the Pakistan–Saudi Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement represents continuity, consolidation, and modernization of a trusted partnership. It signals Islamabad’s rising profile as a responsible and capable security actor and Riyadh’s confidence in pursuing a diversified defense strategy anchored in long-term cooperation with Pakistan.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.