‘Watershed’ Pact: How Saudi-Pakistan Defence Deal Reshapes Regional Geopolitics

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in Riyadh, formalising decades of military cooperation at a time of heightened regional tensions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inked the deal on September 17, underscoring a pledge that aggression against one will be treated as aggression against both. The pact comes amid Gulf anxieties following Israel’s strike on Doha and wider instability across the Middle East. For Pakistan, the agreement strengthens its role as a key security partner for Gulf states, while for Saudi Arabia, it represents a hedge against waning US credibility as the region’s ultimate security guarantor. Analysts describe the deal as a “watershed,” opening new avenues for joint training, defence production, and expanded Pakistani troop deployments in the kingdom. While Riyadh has deepened ties with India in recent years, the pact rebalances its relationship with Islamabad, giving Pakistan renewed leverage as South Asia grapples with post-conflict volatility. However, experts caution the deal risks drawing Pakistan into Saudi rivalries with Iran, while raising concerns in Washington and New Delhi. Despite ambiguities, the agreement cements a historic partnership and signals shifting defence alignments in the Middle East and South Asia.