Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement: Context, Implications, and Prospects

Brig Gen Md Mahboob Sarwar (Retd.), PhD

Abstract

On September 17, 2025, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the ‘Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement’ (SMDA) at a high-profile event in Riyadh. The occasion came as a huge surprise and drew instant global attention. The pact embraces a NATO-style clause, stating that an attack on either nation will be considered an act of aggression against both countries. SMDA was proclaimed amid heightened security concerns in the Middle East, particularly in response to Israeli threats to its neighbours. Analysts view the pact as an outcome of concerns over reliability of the U.S. as a security partner. Potential ramifications of this accord extend far beyond the Middle East and South Asia, impacting broader political, security, and defence dynamics. Although the nuclear aspect of the pact remains blurred, Pakistan's potential nuclear umbrella offers Saudi Arabia an extra measure of deterrence. Pakistani media and the policymakers see the treaty as a watershed moment in Saudi-Pakistan relationship. Pakistanis feel that the pact elevates country's strategic importance, leveraging its military experience and nuclear capabilities. In contrast, the agreement has triggered suspicion and unease in India, where authorities view Pakistan’s new diplomatic feat with concern. Analysts speculate that the treaty may grow into an Arab or Islamic NATO. Moreover, the pact offers Pakistan with strategic, political, and economic advantages. The treaty will definitely intensify major power rivalries, given Saudi-U.S. defence ties and the Sino-Pakistan partnership, potentially challenging its effectiveness. Moreover, the pact would certainly reshape the geopolitical alignments in the Middle East and South Asia.

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Year

2026

Author(s)

Brig Gen Md Mahboob Sarwar, PhD, (Rtd.)

Journal Name

Osmani Papers

Volume, Issue

1, 1

Pagination

37-49

Article Type

Paper

DOI: 10.67844/ek6xpb

Keywords: Saudi-Pak Defence Agreement, Indo-Pak Rivalry, Doha Attack, Middle East

For access to the full article, please subscribe to Osmani Papers by contacting us at ocpass2025@gmail.com.