• Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a formal mutual defense pact on September 17, 2025.
• The pact strengthens their longstanding security partnership amid rising regional tensions.
• Heightened concerns about US reliability as a security guarantor influenced the decision.

On September 17, 2025, Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan formalized a mutual defense pact that enhances a decades-long security relationship amidst growing regional tensions. This development occurs as Gulf Arab states increasingly express doubts about the United States' reliability as their primary security guarantor, particularly following Israel's recent military actions against Qatar, which have further alarmed these nations. "This agreement is a culmination of years of discussions. This is not a response to specific countries or specific events but an institutionalization of longstanding and deep cooperation between our two countries," stated a senior Saudi official, emphasizing the ongoing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, according to channelnewsasia, middleeasteye, scmp, reuters, and thejakartapost.

The pact comes at a critical moment as the Gaza war has disrupted the Middle East's security landscape, leaving Gulf state Qatar vulnerable to recent attacks from both Iran and Israel. Notably, the agreement establishes that any aggression against either nation will be considered an act of aggression against both, reflecting a strong commitment to mutual defense. The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alongside Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, indicating the military's significant influence in Pakistani civil affairs, as reported by middleeasteye and scmp.

This defense agreement has broader implications, as Saudi Arabia seeks to maintain its strategic relationships with both Pakistan and its historical rival, India. A senior Saudi official acknowledged the need to balance relations, affirming that "Our relationship with India is more robust than it has ever been." These words underscore the complexity of regional alliances as Pakistan navigates its ties with China and responds to America’s shifting geopolitical stance after recent tensions with India, reported by reuters and thejakartapost.

Experts note that this mutual defense pact could alter the strategic calculus in the region, particularly as both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan remain wary of American influence and Israeli military actions that compromise their security. The US's previous support for Israeli operations and its hesitance to engage in direct confrontations have left many Gulf states like Saudi Arabia grappling with the implications of diminished American reliability, according to channelnewsasia and middleeasteye.