On Wednesday, September 17, Saudi Arabia and nuclear–armed Pakistan signed a formal mutual defense pact, significantly strengthening the bilateral security partnership, amid rising regional tensions.
According to a senior Saudi official
This agreement is a culmination of years of negotiations. This is not a response to specific countries or specific events but rather an institutionalization of longstanding and deep cooperation between our two countries.
When asked if the pact required Pakistan to extend a nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia, an official responded that it was a broad defensive agreement covering “all forms of military cooperation.”
The announcement was confirmed in an official statement from the Pakistani prime minister’s office, which declared
This agreement–which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieve peace in the region and the world–aims to develop aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression. The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.
