Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a formal mutual defence pact, state media from both countries said, in a move that significantly strengthens a decades-long security partnership. The agreement stipulates that any attack on either of the two countries is an attack on both.
“This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security…, aims to develop aspects of defence 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,” a joint statement published on Sep. 17 said, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The defence pact was based on the “historic partnership” between the two countries, the statement said, and “shared strategic interests and close defence cooperation”.
During their meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, “discussed ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two brotherly countries across various fields”, SPA said.
On Sep. 19, Defence Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Mohammad Asif said his nation’s nuclear programme “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if needed under the countries’ new defence pact, marking the first specific acknowledgment that Islamabad had put the kingdom under its nuclear umbrella.