The joint defence cooperation agreement signed yesterday (Wednesday) between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan reflects the two nations’ awareness of the growing threats facing the region. According to Saudi writer and political analyst Munif Amash Al-Harbi, the deal effectively means that Islamabad’s nuclear arsenal will be at Riyadh’s disposal in the event of external aggression.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Al-Harbi stressed that Israel’s attack on the Qatari capital Doha last week confirmed the region is facing its gravest danger since 1948, after the United States “lost control” over Tel Aviv.
The agreement seeks to enhance the security of both countries, promote peace and stability across the region and the world, and strengthen cooperation in the field of defence. Most importantly, it establishes a framework of collective deterrence against any assault.
Al-Harbi likened the accord to the founding of NATO, in that an attack on one party will be considered an attack on the other. This principle, he argued, makes all defensive capabilities of each state available to the other, including Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.
A Partnership with Room to Expand
Al-Harbi emphasised that the objectives of the pact go beyond Saudi and Pakistani security, extending to the protection of Gulf and Arab states should the international community fail to respond to aggression.
He clarified that Riyadh is not seeking to replace its existing strategic partnership with the United States, but rather to diversify and expand its alliances—a strategy it has already demonstrated by deepening ties with Washington, Paris, Beijing, and New Delhi.
Saudi Arabia, he noted, has proven capable of maintaining such balances before—such as the 1988 arms deal with China, which went forward despite American displeasure. The Kingdom’s military doctrine remains defensive rather than offensive, and future agreements with other countries are expected.
Pakistani defence journalist Muhammad Ali agreed, describing the pact as “historic and significant.” He linked it to the broader instability across the East, Pakistan’s successful response to India’s attack in May, and the failure of global powers to meet the security needs of regional states.
Ali argued that Islamabad has now positioned itself as the security backbone for other nations, with Saudi Arabia at the forefront, but unlikely to be the last. He warned that Israel’s assault on Doha on 9 September has already driven powerful Middle Eastern states to seek reliable security guarantees from Pakistan—signalling that more countries may follow Riyadh’s path.
Strategic Timing
The agreement was formally signed on Wednesday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The joint declaration states: “Any attack on one of the two nations will be considered an attack on both.”
Notably, this Saudi deal with the Muslim nuclear power comes just one week after the Israeli aggression against Doha, which targeted a meeting of leaders from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Qatari capital.
