Saudi Arabia and Nuclear-Armed Pakistan Sign ‘Comprehensive’ Mutual Defense Pact

Latest Developments

Mutual Defense Agreement: Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact on September 17, strengthening the longstanding security partnership between the two nations. “The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” a joint statement read. Asked whether the agreement meant that Riyadh now has nuclear guarantees under Islamabad’s umbrella, a senior Saudi official stated, “This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means.”
Strengthening Alliances: Pakistan’s alliance with Saudi Arabia is decades old, with some 1,500 and 2,000 Pakistani troops deployed to assist and train the Royal Saudi Armed Forces. After Pakistan was isolated diplomatically following its first nuclear test in 1998, Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, while disapproving of the test, promised Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Khalid Mahmood to “support you more than you expect.” Riyadh then pledged $3.4 billion in financial support to Islamabad, helping progress the nation’s nuclear program. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the defense agreement in Riyadh, pledging to “strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.”
Regional Threats: While both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan recently condemned Israel for its September 9 strike against senior Hamas officials in Qatar, both have more imminent threats closer to home. Saudi Arabia has been the target of thousands of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who conducted missile and drone strikes against Saudi airports, oil facilities, and other predominantly civilian targets between 2015 and 2022. Pakistan and India are involved in a longstanding territorial dispute over the disputed territory of Kashmir. The dispute has been punctuated by multiple military escalations, including a recent four-day conflict in May. In January 2024, Pakistan also traded drone and missile strikes with its western neighbor, Iran, after Iran struck Pakistan’s Balochistan region.

FDD Expert Response

“Though the Saudi-Pakistani relationship has long been close, there have been limitations on mutual support. This new mutual defense pact is likely to remain a symbolic agreement, with its main applicability in nonbelligerent arenas, such as training and procurement. Likewise, assertions that the agreement is targeted toward Israel make no sense, as there is no prospect in the foreseeable future of Israel becoming involved in conflict with either the Saudis or the Pakistanis. Iran is involved far more in hostile activity against both nations. Finally, it is inconceivable that Riyadh would allow itself to become embroiled in a future war between India and Pakistan, which is the most likely scenario that either country faces for military hostilities in the near future.” — Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Fellow

“The deal’s military value appears negligible beyond its symbolic photo-op. Islamabad lacks the capability to project power over 2,600 miles to Riyadh. Claims that Pakistan could provide Saudi Arabia with a nuclear umbrella are dubious, as its longest-range missile, the Shaheen III, has a 1,700-mile range and cannot reach most threats to the kingdom.” — Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow