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Saudi Arabia Seals Defense Pact With Pakistan as Islamabad Signals Nuclear Cover

Public statements indicate Pakistan’s deterrent would cover the kingdom, signaling a shift in Gulf security calculations.

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Le ministre pakistanais de la Défense, Khawaja Asif, a récemment affirmé à une chaîne locale que le programme nucléaire de son pays serait mis à disposition de l’Arabie saoudite.
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Overview

  • Riyadh and Islamabad signed a mutual-defense treaty on September 17 in the Saudi capital, formalizing long-standing military ties.
  • An analyst close to the Saudi court said the Pakistani nuclear umbrella now extends to Saudi Arabia and described nuclear capabilities as integral to the pact.
  • Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, said the country’s nuclear program would be made available to Saudi Arabia in case of need.
  • The agreement followed an Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar that rattled Gulf capitals and fed doubts about relying solely on U.S. security guarantees.
  • Observers note India will scrutinize the move given recent India–Pakistan clashes, while SIPRI estimates Pakistan’s arsenal at about 170 warheads and operational details of the pact remain opaque.