Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement

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Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement
TypeDefense pact
Signed17 September 2025 (2025-09-17)
LocationAl Yamamah Palace, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Signatories
Parties
LanguageEnglish

The Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) is a security and defense agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Under this agreement, both countries committed to treating any act of aggression against one as an act against both. It was signed on 17 September 2025 during a state visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia.[1][2][3]

Background

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See also: Nuclear sharing § Potential nuclear sharing between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long-standing military cooperation, defense training programs, economic ties, and cultural and religious ties.[4][5]

In recent years, changes in Middle Eastern geopolitics (including concerns about external threats, reactions to Israeli military actions, and perceptions of American reliability as a guarantor of security) have heightened regional security concerns. Many analysts see the agreement in part as a response to such dynamics.[6][4][7]

The Financial Times reported that the Israeli airstrike in Qatar, another U.S. ally, a week earlier had deeply rattled Gulf states feeling of security added to long-running concerns about U.S. unpredictability and commitment to their defence. A senior Saudi official stated "We hope it will reinforce our deterrence — aggression against one is aggression against the other".[8]

The signing took place during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's official visit to Saudi Arabia, and was hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.[9]

The agreement

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The treaty was signed on 17 September 2025 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh. It came in the back drop of Israeli strikes on Qatar and the following Arab-Islamic extraordinary summit in Doha.[10] Both countries have historically had close economic, religious and security ties with each other. The pact is seen as "the most significant upgrade to Pakistan-Saudi defense relations in decades" and the timing of the pact appeared to be a signal to Israel in lieu of its expanding military offensive across the Middle East.[11][12][13] Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that Pakistan’s pact |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-saudi-arabia-defence-pact-nuclear-capabilities-weapons-israel-gaza-war/article70069417.ece}}</ref>

Reactions

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Both signatory countries have largely presented the agreement as a positive development, with Pakistani leaders presenting it as a normalization or formalization of existing defense cooperation.[3][9]

Neighboring states and regional powers have watched closely. Some have expressed concern about the impact on the regional security balance. India in particular has reacted with statements that it is carefully monitoring the development.[14][15]

Analysts views

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Some see it as a historic upgrade of Pakistan-Saudi relations, perhaps the strongest formal arrangement in decades.[16][5] Others note the ambiguity in the operational details of the agreement, particularly how the nuclear deterrence and mutual defense clause will be activated in practice.[4][6] Former diplomat Hussein Haqqani noted that the treaty likely covers nuclear and missile defense.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "HRH the Crown Prince, Pakistan Prime Minister Hold Official Talks, Sign Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement". Saudi Press Agency.
  2. ^ "Joint Statement on the State Visit of Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  3. ^ a b "Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sign defence pact pledging joint response to aggression".
  4. ^ a b c "Saudi Arabia signs mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan".
  5. ^ a b "Pakistan, KSA sign defence pact".
  6. ^ a b Dahan, Maha El; Shah, Saeed; Dahan, Maha El; Shah, Saeed. "Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan sign mutual defence pact". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Saudi Arabia Seeks New Security Alliances as Trust in U.S. Erodes".
  8. ^ England, Andrew; Al, Ahmed Omran; Jilani, Humza (17 September 2025). "Saudi Arabia signs 'strategic mutual defence' pact with Pakistan". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 17 September 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Pakistan, Saudi Arabia ink defence pact to counter aggression jointly".
  10. ^ Hussain, Abid. "'Watershed': How Saudi-Pakistan defence pact reshapes region's geopolitics". Al Jazeera.
  11. ^ "Here is what analysts have to say about the Pak-Saudi defence agreement". Dawn. September 18, 2025.
  12. ^ "Saudi Arabia signs mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan". The Times of Israel.
  13. ^ "Saudi Arabia signs a mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan after Israel's attack on Qatar". Associated Press News.
  14. ^ "Defence pact: Pakistan-Saudi Arabia declare joint response to any aggression; India reacts". The Times of India.
  15. ^ "Saudi-Pakistan defence deal a worry for India: Congress". The Economic Times.
  16. ^ "Here is what analysts have to say about the Pak-Saudi defence agreement".
  17. ^ "Hussein Haqqani via Twitter".