Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement: Context, content and impacts
Abstract
On September 17th, 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, marking a critical milestone in strengthening relations between the two countries. The event has attracted significant international attention because it not only demonstrates a trend of nations seeking new security assurances amid unpredictable shifts in the global and regional landscape, but it could also reshape the security architecture in South Asia and the Middle East. The paper analyzes the Pakistan - Saudi Arabia agreement from the perspectives of its context, motivation, content, and its impacts on international relations. The paper points out that, the agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reflects the trend of seeking new security guarantees through strengthening military power and collective defense, including the use of nuclear deterrence, which is likely to lead to changes in the security environment of South Asia and the Middle East.
