Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan have signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement that could reshape regional security dynamics across the Middle East. The deal commits both nations to treat any aggression against one as an attack on both, reinforcing joint deterrence amid rising Arab concerns over Israel’s military actions. Reuters
While Pakistan insists that nuclear weapons are “not on the radar” of the agreement, analysis suggests Riyadh may gain a de facto nuclear umbrella under the new pact. Islamabad’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has said Pakistan’s nuclear program “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if needed. AP News
The timing of the pact— in the wake of Israeli strikes in Qatar and growing doubts among Gulf states about U.S. reliability— signals a strategic shift. Saudi Arabia’s move to align more closely with Pakistan’s military strength adds weight to its ambitions for independent defense capabilities.
