NORTH Atlantic Treaty Organisation or NATO was put together in 1949, this is a military pact led by the USA and has as its members most of the countries of Western Europe and includes Australia and New Zealand as well.
This pact was launched at the height of the cold war when clear battle lines were drawn between the communist bloc led by the USSR and the capitalist bloc led by the USA and the stated aim was that if any country is attacked by a communist state all other members will come to the aid of the attacked country and the enemy was clearly defined as the communist bloc led by the USSR. Now fast forward to 17th September 2025 a new chapter has been written in world history Pakistan the nuclear power of South Asia and Saudi Arabia the economic giant of the Muslim world have signed a new pact of military strategic cooperation.The Saudi Pakistan Defense and military agreement has been signed and delivered in a surprise hurried manner and this new pact has definitely strengthened the bilateral social, political and economic ties between the two Islamic countries. According to Military historians and analysts this pact also has article 5 of the NATO charter where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members of the agreement and the Saudi Pakistan pact is very distinct and clear in its objectives but complete details of this treaty are yet to be disclosed which should be done in a joint session of the Parliament in Islamabad. Unless and until details are made known this agreement will continue to generate controversies and doubts about its real content or its aims and objectives.
Pakistan is the only Muslim country of the world with nuclear power and one of the most modern and well trained army and Saudi Arabia a leading political and economic power of the day with some of the biggest oil and gas reserves in the world so this alliance becomes historic and unprecedented for both countries and the Muslim nations too. During the recent past the world has seen many shifting power balances specially the rapidly declining influence of the USA in global affairs, with the rampaging onslaught of Israel in Palestine with the blessings of the USA. The phenomenal rise and political influence of China and the greater influence of the BRICS bloc to counter the weight of the Western financial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF.
During these changing scenarios Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have taken a very bold, timely and courageous step by this strategic military agreement. Now with this new pact Saudi Pakistan joint ventures in the defense industry and drone technology can help to offset the Indian dominance in defense matters and reduce the dangers for Pakistan.India is the biggest buyer of Saudi oil ad a major partner in many economic projects launched in India including investments in the oil and gas industry and a bilateral trade estimated at $52 billion in 2024 so this will be a very difficult balancing act for Saudi Arabia when it is committed to help Pakistan if faced by any Indian aggression. This pact also provides Pakistan a shield against any future India-Israel adventure such as a planned strike on nuclear facilities. Saudi Arabia will now enjoy the facility of joint military cooperation including training of its military personnel including flying training for its pilots which will improve its operational capacity tremendously.
The Saudi-Pakistan joint defense agreement will definitely be a great game changer in the turbulent geopolitical security landscape of the Middle East. When the defense accord was signed Sept. 17, the role of nuclear weapons was not clear. But any doubts about the regional impact were dispelled two days later, when Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif asserted that under the agreement, Saudi Arabia will fall under the Pakistani nuclear umbrella.In an interview with the Pakistani Geo television, Asif said under the accord, “Whatever we have, our capabilities, will absolutely be available” to Saudi Arabia, later adding “Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
Reuters quoted a Saudi official as saying, “This is a comprehensive defense agreement that encompasses all military means.”Fundamentally, “The agreement stipulates that a foreign aggression on one is an attack on both,” Faisal Al Hamad, a retired Saudi Air Force brigadier general and defense analyst, told Breaking Defense. This is almost the exact statement made by Asif, who said, “Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” The agreement between the oil-rich Saudi Arabia and the only Islamic nuclear state, Pakistan, has taken everybody by surprise.It remains unclear how the United States feels about this pact. Washington has been negotiating with Saudi officials for some time now to reach a security agreement. However, sources have previously indicated that the level of defense relations the Saudis were seeking were not conceivable by the United States. “It is difficult for the US to provide Saudi Arabia with the strong security guarantees similar to the ones that Washington gives Israel,” said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, UAE political science professor.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
