NEW YORK: The announcement of a mutual defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has taken both supporters and critics by surprise, adding a new dimension to the two countries’ already close ties.
Pakistan has a long history of military cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including deployments and advisory roles, but this pact marks a significant escalation in their partnership.
The United States, a key ally of Israel and a long-time security guarantor for Gulf states from Qatar and Oman to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has yet to issue an official response. Analysts note that Washington, which often influences regional leadership decisions, now faces a complex situation that may challenge its traditional role in the Gulf.
India, despite its strong economic ties with Saudi Arabia, has reacted sharply to the development. Indian media outlets, in a display of bias, have labeled the agreement an “Islamic NATO,” despite never referring to NATO’s US-European alliance in religious terms.
For the US Central Command, which oversees military operations in both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, this new defence pact could present a strategic challenge. Observers are divided on whether it will be seen as an opportunity for cooperation or a potential complication.
Former US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, described the agreement as a significant step in Pakistan-Saudi relations, but questioned whether it constitutes a formal treaty or a symbolic agreement, and whether it was prompted by recent Israeli actions in the region.
Other analysts argue that while the pact may not deter an Indian offensive against Pakistan, it strengthens Islamabad’s strategic standing alongside China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. So far, the US State Department and Israel have remained silent. However, both Pakistani and Saudi leaderships view the pact as a safeguard in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. The true impact of this defence agreement will only become clear with time.