By Xu Yizhen
Recently, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement in the Saudi capital Riyadh, under which any attack against either country will be considered "an aggression against both." In a joint statement, the two countries said the agreement reflects their shared commitment to strengthening national security and promoting peace in the region and beyond. It aims to develop bilateral defense cooperation and bolster joint deterrence against any aggression.
Saudi Arabia was among the first countries to recognize Pakistan's independence. In 2018, it extended a US$6 billion loan to support Pakistan. Since 1967, Pakistan has trained more than 8,000 Saudi military personnel. The enduring close diplomatic and security ties have laid a solid foundation for the signing of the new agreement. Meanwhile, the increasing spillover of security risks in the Middle East has become a direct catalyst for the signing of the agreement.
Israel carried out a precision strike targeting the Hamas leadership on September 9 in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Blatantly violating Qatar's territorial sovereignty and national security, in clear breach of international law and the UN Charter, and openly undermining efforts to achieve peace, the act prompted strong condemnation from the international community. At that time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a two-day visit to Israel, asserting that the Israeli strike on Qatar would not shake US-Israel relations. Upon Rubio’s arrival in Israel, the Israeli military launched intensified operations in the Gaza Strip, steadily expanding air strikes on Gaza City and its surrounding areas.
Israel’s hardline actions, coupled with deliberate US indulgence, have undoubtedly provoked strong dissatisfaction among the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia. Qatar is not only one of the main mediators in the Israel-Palestine ceasefire negotiations, but also an important US ally in the Middle East. According to Foreign analysts, without the US's nod, it is almost impossible for Israeli fighter jets to approach or enter Qatar's airspace without being detected. This situation has made some Gulf countries, long reliant on US protection, realize that in the eyes of Washington, the interests of other Middle Eastern allies may become a sacrificable cost when faced with the more intimate ally, Israel. The US, as a security partner, has proven unreliable, inevitably prompting some regional countries to seek alternative security arrangements and reevaluate their relationship with Washington.
It is therefore understandable that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed such a strategic defense agreement. Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its security cooperation, while Pakistan aims to enhance its strategic standing. Their shared objective is to address the uncertainties in the regional situation through closer and more robust security cooperation. Although the agreement does not explicitly state that Pakistan will provide nuclear protection to Saudi Arabia, it can still enhance the deterrence of Gulf countries in the security domain and, to some extent, help prevent incidents similar to Israel's strike on Qatar. For Pakistan, Saudi Arabia serves as a reliable strategic anchor within the regional security framework. Following the signing of the agreement, the regional influence of Pakistan is also expected to further increase.
Some analysts believe that, following this agreement, countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar may also seek to sign similar agreements with Pakistan. Ultimately, the Gaza issue remains a core security concern in the Middle East, and the sense of insecurity among regional countries is a direct consequence of the spillover effects of the conflict. Security should be shared, and responding to violence with violence only generates and accumulates new hostility. A comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza is the most effective way to alleviate regional tensions.