Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in 2025 Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA)

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in 2025 entered into a historic Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) which immensely strengthened their military and geopolitical relationship.

1. Background of the Agreement.

Historical Association: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed close association for decades, including military cooperation, economic relations, cultural, and religious ties. Pakistani soldiers were initially stationed on Saudi borders in the 1960s based on concerns about regional conflicts, including Egypt’s participation in the North Yemen civil war. Subsequently, Pakistan has trained thousands of Saudi soldiers.

Shifting Geopolitical Landscape: During the past few years, Middle Eastern geopolitics has experienced shifts that have heightened security issues within the Gulf states. These are:

      Rising external threats.

      Israeli military aggression, especially against neighboring nations.

      Eroding confidence in the reliability of the United States as a security guarantor for Gulf nations.

Triggering Event — Israeli Airstrikes on Doha: On 9 September 2025, Israeli airstrikes attacked Doha, Qatar, and evoked profound concern among Gulf states. They tested the security system upheld by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which entails U.S. assurances to guard capital cities such as Riyadh. The airstrikes revealed weakness in the defense mechanisms of the Gulf states and enhanced their desire for enhanced regional security arrangements.

Reaction to Regional Security Issues: Against the context of regional unease and uncertainty, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the SMDA on 17 September 2025. The agreement is mostly viewed as a strategic move to enhance deterrence and demonstrate unity between the two countries in the face of changing security challenges in the Middle East.

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2. What the Agreement Is.

The accord is known as the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The accord was signed in Riyadh on 17 September 2025 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The central vow is that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” That is, if one is attacked, the other responds as if it itself has been attacked.

The treaty has been signed into law by Pakistan’s cabinet.

The agreement is more than a security vow; there is intention to enhance defence cooperation more widely — joint deterrence, military coordination, intelligence sharing, etc.

Mutual Defense Clause: The treaty states that any attack on one of the nations will be considered an attack on both.

Joint Military Cooperation: It provides opportunities for mutual training, intelligence exchange, and cooperative defense procedures.

Symbolic Signing Ceremony: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed the accord in Riyadh with complete royal protocol, including a reception by Saudi F-15 fighter jets.

2. Key Provisions of the SMDA

• Collective Defense Clause: The treaty provides that “any aggression on either country shall be regarded as an aggression on both,” implementing a mutual defense agreement similar to NATO’s Article 5.

Comprehensive Military Cooperation: The agreement covers diverse dimensions of defense cooperation such as joint deterrence measures, sharing of intelligence, and combined armed forces to respond to collective threats.

Nuclear Deterrence Implications: Although the formal text does not refer to nuclear weapons, Pakistani officials have stated that the nuclear capabilities of the country can be extended to Saudi Arabia under the agreement. This move has provoked discussion regarding the implications for regional security dynamics.

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3. Other Related Arrangements.

In order to complement the SMDA and extend Pakistan Saudi relations, there are complementary economic and institutional measures:

Pakistan has established an 18 member high level committee under the “Pakistan–Saudi Arabia Economic Framework” for economic cooperation in various fields (energy, agriculture, climate, etc.).

Two way trade has been on the rise. For instance, Pakistan exports to Saudi Arabia have grown by ~22%, volume of trade is up.

Some other agreements are a joint committee on the production of media (films, documentaries, songs), and the annual Hajj agreement, etc.

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4. Points of Contention.

\Nuclear Umbrella? There is speculation if under the agreement Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent could reach Saudi Arabia (i.e., Saudi being under Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella). Pakistani officials have made vague statements: one moment indicating readiness in some way, but also declaring that nuclear weapons are “not on the radar” of the pact.

So officially, the document does not explicitly state nuclear weapons are shared or Pakistan will employ its nuclear capacity to protect Saudi.

Scope & Triggers What “aggression” is, what type of aggression provokes mutual response (military, conventional, cyber, etc.), and whether it calls for declarations, etc., are not fully explained in public sources.

Others’ Involvement There are reports by the officials that other Arab / Gulf nations may possibly be brought on board at a later date. The present agreement is only bilateral.

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5. Why It Matters.

• It’s seen as an important strategic step: It makes Pakistan more openly aligned with Saudi Arabia militarily. It is seen by experts as being in terms of deterrence, regional balance, particularly in view of tensions in the Middle East.
• \It is happening at a time when Gulf countries are reconsidering their security arrangements. There is some apprehension in the region regarding reliability of conventional security assurances (e.g. from the US).
• For Pakistan, it reinforces its diplomatic influence and could result in increased Saudi investment under the economic package.
• Geopolitical Shift: Commentators consider this as a turning point, particularly in the backdrop of changing alliances in the Middle East and declining U.S. influence.
• Security Architecture: The agreement is part of an attempt to redefine regional security paradigms, especially in reaction to tensions between Qatar and Israel.
• India’s Concerns: India has taken interest in the agreement, considering its implications on regional balance of power.

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• If you wish, I can forward a more detailed analysis of likely risks and responses (e.g. from India, Iran, the US) along with what the analysts are saying. Would you like that?
• Endpoint Ratification: Pakistan’s Federal Cabinet approved the deal and appreciated the leadership of the two countries.
• Economic Synergy: In addition to defense relations, Saudi investment in Punjab was announced with significant commitments across development and infrastructure sectors.
• This agreement heralds a new chapter in Pakistan–Saudi relations, strengthening a decades-long relationship with added strategic depth. If you would like to know more about how this could influence Pakistan’s foreign policy or regional stability, I’d be more than happy to explore further.