Overview

• Signed on September 17, the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement declares that aggression against one state will be treated as aggression against both.
• U.S. officials were aware of the deal and did not strongly oppose it, according to Eurasia Group’s Ian Bremmer.
• Operational and legal details have not been published, fueling analysis of a possible indirect nuclear dimension that remains contested.
• Reporting points to expected Saudi financial and defence-industrial support for Pakistan, with analyses citing potential investments of up to about $15 billion and Pakistani markets responding positively.
• India issued a measured response urging consideration of mutual sensitivities, while Pakistan’s defence minister said the door is open to other Arab countries potentially joining.