On September 17, 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the historic defense pact, referred to as the Pak-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement SMDA. The pact is one of its kind. In times when proxy wars are at their peak and border tensions are growing with each passing day, this pact is aimed at addressing both countries’ concerns. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, sharing common Islamic values and mutual regional vulnerabilities, will both achieve security assurance and economic support through this pact.
In times like these, when Saudi Arabia’s dependence on the West is waning due to the West’s non-trustworthy approach towards allies, and Pakistan’s attempt at reshaping its position as a strategic Muslim player in the region, this pact is the best way out for both. This is their attempt at transforming the security paradigms of both the Middle East and South Asia.
In nature, the SMDA is a bilateral defense agreement that states, ‘an act of aggression against one of the states will be considered an act of aggression against both’. In this case, the adversary will be responded to in all military, economic, and political terms. Since the pact is defensive in nature, it aims at conducting a preemptive strike against potential attackers in a scenario of early threat perception, be the potential attacker is among the Houthis who keep threatening Saudi oil exports, or be it Pakistan’s rivalry with India, given India’s expansive and aggressive policies. the pact aims at assuring both countries a security policy in the asymmetric warfare trends of today’s age.
Among its defense clauses, the pact also includes cooperation between the two countries in terms of joint military drills, intelligence sharing, and joint training. In this regard, Pakistan aims to export Shahpar-III combat drones to Saudi Arabia and the UAE which will aid in technological transfer enabling Saudi Vision 2030 to reach its goals and move towards self-sufficiency of arms. Saudi’s vision 2030 involves the development of maritime surveillance with countries in Red Sea chokepoints to protect the area. For this, Saudi Arabia shares trilateral projects with Turkey aimed at building fifth-generation fighters, such as KAAN. The same naval cooperation is hinted at to be part of this pact as well.
As far as economic cooperation is concerned, in this agreement, Saudi Arabia pledges to provide up to $3 billion loans to Pakistan, $2 billion in terms of investment MOUs, and oil payments of up to $1.2 billion are owed to Pakistan are aimed at improving Pakistan’s economic crisis. Additionally, a refinery project of about $6 billion is also part of this pact. This will help enhance Saudi’s energy exports and side by side stabilize Pakistan’s economic conditions.
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In terms of strategic importance in the region surrounding Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the SMDA is analyzed as a remarkable attempt at reframing Pakistan’s position as a key player. Pakistan, under the grey shadows of FATF grey listing, constant border tensions, conflict and skirmishes was displayed as a rather weak state. Under this pact, Pakistan will become Saudi Arabia’s security guarantor and it changes a lot about Pakistan’s image. It will help Pakistan re-emerge as regional role player in the Muslim world as well as the Gulf. This will not only lead Pakistan to freedom from being a scapegoat to Western sanctions., but will also connect the security fault lines of both South Asia and the Middle East.
In South Asia’s case, the pact has a strong effect given that the last conflict between India and Pakistan was not long ago. This pact will create a dis-balance in India’s calculation of Pakistan in the future. Saudi Arabia sells up to 60% of India’s crude oil needs to India. In case of any mischief from India this time around will disrupt its energy lifelines and will have its workers sent back from the Saudi Arabia to their homes. Also, any attempt of a surgical strike on Pakistan by India will be seen as an attack on Saudi Arabia under the pact. This agreement will also support Pakistan’s fight against intensifying Baloch insurgencies in Balochistan and terrorist activities of Tehrik-I-Taliban in tribal region.
Globally, SMDA will allow Islamabad to reestablish itself as a one of the major player in global power politics by decreasing its dependence on its traditional allies—China and the US. As per this agreement, Riyadh is pound to send its military and navy to Pakistan in times of war with enemy country. In response, Islamabad will offer its defense and deterrence services to KSA in wars of all kinds including technological infusion and a seat and strengthened their voices at higher platforms alongside other major players. There is no denying of the fact that this agreement has sowed the seed of new alliance and it will be a potential torch bearer of Eastern defense which later on enlarge by the inclusion of countries like Qatar and possibly Iran too.
In nutshell, the SMDA is a major advancement in the partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh. This agreement will boost their defense and deterrence potentials and will result in more cordial relations between them amid the changed world order. For Islamabad, it will bring both economic and defense benefits. For Riyadh, the deal will bring military benefits and a great market for its energy exports. It will enhance their strategic posture in the region and globally as well.
*The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of TDI.
Harsa Kakar
Harsa Kakar is an Assistant Research Fellow at Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN), Quetta. The views expressed are personal. She can be reached at kakarhsa01@gmail.com
