Published on September 20, 2025, at 12:52 PM
By signing a strategic defense agreement, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have the potential to change the dynamics of regional security. As tensions increase throughout the Middle East, the agreement was announced this week. Israel is currently seen by many Arab countries as a growing threat. The deal alludes to a possible nuclear umbrella for Saudi Arabia, which Pakistan is obliquely supporting.
The agreement, according to experts, successfully connects Pakistan’s nuclear-capable military with Saudi financial might. Analysts think Pakistan’s nuclear might could help Riyadh, though specifics are still few. Pakistan claims officially that it only has nuclear weapons directed against India. Saudi indications, however, indicate that the accord is seen as providing wider security covering.
The pact does not include nuclear weapons, Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Asif told Reuters. The agreement might be extended to other Gulf states, he said. The agreement is not aggressive, he said, but it will come into effect if either party is in danger. However, Saudi Arabia might take a more calculated approach to interpreting the deal.
Following an alleged Israeli strike on Qatar, Gulf leaders have voiced their alarm. Israel, they say, is now a direct threat. If its adversary Iran manages to acquire nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia has likewise threatened to pursue them. A senior Saudi official described it as a “comprehensive defense pact” when asked if Pakistan is now required to defend Saudi Arabia with nuclear deterrence.
According to analysts, this action shows a decline in confidence in American security assurances. According to London-based Middle East specialist Hassan Alhasan, Saudi Arabia wants to counterbalance Israel’s nuclear advantage. The agreement bolsters collaborative defense relations with Pakistan, according to Saudi authorities. Washington, Tel Aviv, and New Delhi officials have not yet made their responses public.
