Saudi-Pakistani defence pact signals major shift in Middle East, S. Asia alignments

Accord advances ties with vow of mutual defence and possibly gives Riyadh a nuclear shield

- Ashraf Khan For The Straits Times

The recent defence pact between Riyadh and Islamabad not only enhances the strategic standing of Pakistan but also changes the regional security alignments in South Asia and the Middle East.

The Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, signed during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh on Sept 17, goes beyond conventional cooperation, encompassing sweeping commitments to mutual defence and hinting at extended nuclear deterrence.

While the two countries have had a longstanding defence relationship, the pact takes these ties further.

Although few details have been made public, analysts said it could mean Riyadh will have a de facto nuclear shield, with Saudi Arabia coming under Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella.

That alone would be a major strategic shift as Pakistan’s nuclear defences are aimed at deterring nuclear rival India.

The agreement also says any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.

The deal, and this clause in particular, has sparked debate in India, although Indian diplomat Zikrur Rahman dismissed the possibility of Saudi Arabia involving itself directly in any South Asian conflicts.

“They (Saudis) are not going to go against India. There is too much at stake, and the (India-Saudi) relationship is going strong,” he said.

However, Indian officials are monitoring the development closely, with the Ministry of External Affairs saying on Sept 18 that it would study the implications of the pact for India’s national security, as well as for regional and global stability.

India and Saudi Arabia have strong bilateral ties rooted in trade, energy cooperation and people-to-people connections but are just beginning to build defence ties, with their maiden joint army exercise having taken place in 2024.