Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Defence Pact: Strategic Shift in Regional Security

Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Defence Pact Latest News

• Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark mutual defence pact, formalising a security partnership rooted since the 1960s. 
• The agreement declares that “any aggression against either country shall be considered aggression against both.” It aims to deepen defence cooperation and strengthen joint deterrence in the region. 
• The pact, finalised after Israel’s recent strike in Qatar and amid waning US defence assurances, marks the first major defence agreement between an Arab nation and a nuclear-armed state. 
• While Saudi Arabia maintains close ties with India as well, this development signals a significant strategic shift in regional security dynamics.

Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Defence Pact and India’s Response

• During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact declaring that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” 
• The agreement builds on nearly eight decades of partnership, rooted in brotherhood, Islamic solidarity, and strategic defence cooperation. 
• It aims to strengthen deterrence and promote regional and global security.
• The defence pact signals a strategic shift, particularly as Saudi Arabia balances its close ties with both Pakistan and India. 
• It highlights the evolving security and diplomatic landscape in the region.

India’s Cautious Response to Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact

• India reacted carefully to the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan mutual defence agreement, with MEA spokesperson noting that the government was aware of the long-standing arrangement. 
• The Ministry of External Affairs said it will study its implications for national security and regional stability, reaffirming India’s commitment to protecting its interests.

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Deepening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Defence Ties

• Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long history of military cooperation, beginning with Pakistani troop deployments in the 1960s and special forces support during the 1979 Mecca Grand Mosque crisis. 
• Their ties were institutionalised in 1982 through a Bilateral Security Cooperation Agreement, enabling training, advisory roles, and arms sales. 
• Pakistani personnel have played a key role in training the Saudi Air Force, while Saudi Arabia has been a major arms buyer. 
• Recent meetings have pledged expanded training and exchanges. 
• The latest defence pact marks Pakistan’s most significant formal commitment in decades, securing Saudi investment during its fiscal crisis and reinforcing its pan-Islamic security role. 
• Analysts suggest Pakistan may now access U.S. weapons through Saudi funding. 
• For Riyadh, the pact strengthens defences against Iran, Houthi militias, and instability triggered by Israel’s actions.

Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Ties with India

• Economic Partnership
  • Saudi Arabia is India’s fifth-largest trading partner, while India is its second-largest. 
  • In FY 2023-24, bilateral trade reached USD 42.98 billion, with Indian exports at USD 11.56 billion and imports at USD 31.42 billion.
• Political and Strategic Milestones
  • Relations deepened with King Abdullah’s 2006 visit, leading to the Delhi Declaration, followed by the Riyadh Declaration in 2010 that elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership. 
  • In 2016, PM Narendra Modi’s visit saw him receive Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honour, the ‘King Abdulaziz Sash’.
• Recent Engagements and Crisis Diplomacy
  • High-level exchanges have since continued. During PM Modi’s April 2025 visit, Saudi Arabia swiftly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. 
  • Its Minister of State for Foreign Affairs also visited during Operation Sindoor.
• Balanced Approach on Sensitive Issues
  • Saudi Arabia has maintained measured positions during India-Pakistan tensions — condemning terror attacks like Pulwama, but refraining from criticising India’s Article 370 abrogation or the Balakot strikes. 
  • It has often positioned itself as a mediator, engaging with both neighbours.

Source: IE | TH | TW