CONSEQUENT upon the signing of a landmark defence pact with Saudi Arabia on 17 September 2025, Pakistan has not only elevated its position in the Middle East security landscape, but has also established its role in global geopolitics.
The agreement pledges that aggression against one nation will be considered aggression against both, deepening the historic military and economic partnership between the two countries. This development reflects shifting geopolitical dynamics, growing Gulf State concerns over regional stability and renewed confidence in Pakistan defence forces. While Pakistan today seems to be asserting itself more prominently as an influential player in South Asia, Islamabad broadly repositions its centrality in the Middle East security landscape, particularly as Muslim nuclear power, Pakistan acts as a security bastion to protect the sacred cities, Mecca and Medina from any external aggression.
The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement marks a major shift in the Middle East’s security paradigm. By and large, this is a comprehensive defence agreement–harnessing all defensive and military means deemed necessary depending on the specific threat. The pact formalizes a decades-long security partnership, committing both nations to consider an attack on one as an attack on both, ushering in a new historical chapter in the friendship of two Islamic powers where one state enshrines with its religious importance of Medina and Mecca and the other one is personified as a nuclear-armed nation in the Muslim world. The pact is seen as a new geopolitical event in a region already destabilized by the Gaza War, the Israeli airstrike on Qatar and increased scrutiny of the US as a reliable security guarantor.
The core of the pact states that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both’’. The agreement aims to strengthen defence cooperation through joint military exercises, integrated command structures, intelligence sharing and collaboration on advanced defence technology. The officials stated the pact is intended to enhance joint deterrence against external threats, signaling a unified front against potential adversaries.The pact comes amid growing concerns among Gulf States about the reliability of the United States as their traditional security guarantor. This anxiety was exacerbated by Israel’s recent airstrike in Doha, which allegedly targeted Hamas leaders and occurred during ceasefire negotiations. Strategically, the formalization of the alliance with nuclear-armed Pakistan provides Saudi Arabia with a strengthened security guarantee against Iran, particularly concerning its missile and drone capabilities. The potential implication of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal in this arrangement has not been explicitly clarified, but is a major consideration for regional powers. Needless to say, Pakistan has provided informal security and military assistance to Saudi Arabia for decades. The new pact provides a formal framework for this cooperation. Focusing on the Saudi vision 2030, the deal aligns with Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategy to localize defence production and reduce its dependence on Western arms suppliers.
Meanwhile, this strategic alliance offers Pakistan assurances of continued Saudi financial and diplomatic support, which is crucial as Islamabad faces ongoing economic challenges. Amid the declining US influence in the region being increasingly challenged by regional powers, both China and Russia secure their respective roles in the region. Similarly, the pact could lead to new training contracts, technology transfers and collaboration on emerging military technologies such as drone warfare. So, the alliance signals to both allies and adversaries that the two nations will stand together, providing Islamabad with added security. As for Saudi Arabia, the security pact strengthens security posture. The agreement locks Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation with one of the world’s largest armies, into the Gulf’s security framework. This formalizes Pakistan’s historical role in defending the kingdom and its holy cities.
Also, the signing of this pact provides Saudi Arabia a comfort to focus on long-term goals, which includes mega projects like NEOM. Further, both nations are increasing maritime interoperability, as evidenced by Saudi participation in Pakistan’s AMAN-25 multinational naval drills in February 2025 and joint bilateral exercises like Naseem Al Bahr. These exercises involve advanced anti-submarine warfare and counter-terrorism operations, moving beyond traditional naval displays. Subsequently, in June 2025, officials from both nations discussed collaboration on artificial intelligence, semiconductors and technology infrastructure under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Defence industry collaboration: The agreement includes provisions for defence production, with Saudi Arabia looking to localize its defence industry through partnerships with Pakistan.
Now beyond conventional and asymmetric threats, Saudi Arabia is investing in advanced missile defence systems and electronic warfare platforms, often with support from partners like Pakistan. While strengthening its alignment with Riyadh, Pakistan continues to present itself as a mediator in regional disputes. By avoiding a direct military role in intra-Arab conflicts, Pakistan maintains a strategic balance to safeguard its ties with both Sunni and Shiite powers. And most importantly, with this pact, Islamabad enhances its diplomatic and peacekeeping initiatives as Pakistan is set to leverage its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2025-2026) to play a more prominent role in promoting peace and security in the region, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
And substantially, the defence pact comes as Pakistan looks to leverage its strategic position for economic gain, attracting Saudi investment in key sectors. The assurance of Saudi financial backing is also crucial for Pakistan, which faces significant economic and security challenges. And last but not least, the other important Middle Eastern states like Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, including Iran and Turkey seem pragmatically motivated to seek new security engagements with Pakistan. Worthily, the pact symbolizes the notion of Muslim unity. Hence, Pakistan is solidifying its position as a key player in the Middle East’s security dynamics. This suggests an increasing involvement in regional security matters, potentially through diplomatic efforts, military cooperation and participation in security initiatives.
—The writer, based in Pakistan, an independent IR & International Law analyst, also an expert in Conflict and Peace Studies (with special focus on Palestine, Kashmir), is member of European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR), including the Washington Foreign Law Society/American Society of International Law.
