Islamabad/Riyadh, September 18, 2025 (Agencies): In a historic step toward deeper strategic cooperation, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) that pledges joint response to any act of aggression against either nation. The landmark pact was signed on September 17 by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, cementing decades of defence collaboration between the two Muslim-majority allies.
The agreement — described by officials as a “watershed moment” in bilateral ties — commits both countries to treat an attack on one as an attack on the other, effectively establishing a joint deterrence framework. According to US President Donald Trump’s regional envoy John Coale, the deal is aimed at creating “greater security assurances” for both partners as the Middle East and South Asia face heightened instability.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Riyadh, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hailed the pact as a “natural progression” of the long-standing Pakistan–Saudi partnership. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the agreement “a strategic guarantee” for peace and stability in the region, pledging that Pakistan would stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty.
Officials from both sides confirmed that the pact has already been cleared by the relevant ministries, including Pakistan’s defence and foreign affairs divisions, and Saudi Arabia’s security council. The deal is expected to pave the way for joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, defence production cooperation, and enhanced capacity-building programs.
Analysts say the agreement comes at a sensitive time, shortly after a dramatic escalation in regional tensions following an Israeli strike in Doha and growing fears of a wider conflict. The timing, they note, reflects Riyadh’s efforts to diversify its security partnerships beyond its traditional allies and seek a reliable regional partner with a proven military track record.
Believed to be months in the making, the pact is also seen as a culmination of quiet consultations held between senior defence officials. “This agreement institutionalizes what was already a very close relationship,” said a senior Pakistani defence official. “It transforms ad hoc support into a binding commitment.”
The defence accord builds on nearly eight decades of cooperation between the two countries, including joint training programs and deployment of Pakistani military advisers to Saudi Arabia. Observers note that Pakistan’s military experience, including its nuclear deterrent capability, adds strategic weight to the agreement, though officials have downplayed speculation about nuclear guarantees.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the “doors are not closed” for other Arab nations to join the pact in the future, potentially expanding it into a multilateral security arrangement. Such a move, experts say, could reshape the balance of power in the Gulf region and signal a shift away from exclusive reliance on Western security frameworks.
For now, the SMDA marks the first step toward a broader security partnership. Both governments are expected to announce follow-up measures, including joint task forces and working groups, over the coming months.