ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” pledging that aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both, a move that will enhance joint deterrence and strengthen decades of military and security cooperation.
The accord comes at a time of extreme volatility in the Middle East, where prolonged conflicts have heightened fears of wider instability, reinforcing the urgency Gulf states place on stronger security and defense partnerships.
The Riyadh agreement also signals a push by both governments to formalize long-standing military ties into a binding security commitment.
The pact was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, where he met Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace. The two leaders, joined by senior ministers and military officials, reviewed what Sharif’s office called a “historic and strategic” relationship between the two nations and discussed regional developments.
“The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” the joint statement said.
It described the accord as a reflection of the two governments’ shared commitment to strengthening defense cooperation and “achieving security and peace in the region and the world.”
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have for decades maintained close political, military and economic ties. The Kingdom hosts more than 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates — the largest overseas community sending remittances back home — and has repeatedly provided Islamabad with financial support during economic crises. Defense cooperation has included training, arms purchases and joint military exercises.
The new agreement formalizes that cooperation into a mutual defense commitment, a step that analysts widely say places the relationship on par with other strategic partnerships in the region.
While the statement did not detail implementation mechanisms, it stressed the accord was aimed at “developing aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthening joint deterrence against any aggression.”
The visit also comes as Pakistan looks to bolster ties with Gulf states amid ongoing economic challenges at home.
