Why in news?

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark mutual defence pact, formalising a security partnership rooted since the 1960s.

The agreement declares that “any aggression against either country shall be considered aggression against both.” It aims to deepen defence cooperation and strengthen joint deterrence in the region.

The pact, finalised after Israel’s recent strike in Qatar and amid waning US defence assurances, marks the first major defence agreement between an Arab nation and a nuclear-armed state.

While Saudi Arabia maintains close ties with India as well, this development signals a significant strategic shift in regional security dynamics.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Defence Pact and India’s Response
• Deepening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Defence Ties
• Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Ties with India

Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Defence Pact and India’s Response

• During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact declaring that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
• The agreement builds on nearly eight decades of partnership, rooted in brotherhood, Islamic solidarity, and strategic defence cooperation.
• It aims to strengthen deterrence and promote regional and global security.
• The defence pact signals a strategic shift, particularly as Saudi Arabia balances its close ties with both Pakistan and India.
• It highlights the evolving security and diplomatic landscape in the region.
• India’s Cautious Response to Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact
  • India reacted carefully to the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan mutual defence agreement, with MEA spokesperson noting that the government was aware of the long-standing arrangement.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs said it will study its implications for national security and regional stability, reaffirming India’s commitment to protecting its interests.

Deepening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Defence Ties

• Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long history of military cooperation, beginning with Pakistani troop deployments in the 1960s and special forces support during the 1979 Mecca Grand Mosque crisis.
• Their ties were institutionalised in 1982 through a Bilateral Security Cooperation Agreement, enabling training, advisory roles, and arms sales.
• Pakistani personnel have played a key role in training the Saudi Air Force, while Saudi Arabia has been a major arms buyer.
• Recent meetings have pledged expanded training and exchanges.
• The latest defence pact marks Pakistan’s most significant formal commitment in decades, securing Saudi investment during its fiscal crisis and reinforcing its pan-Islamic security role.
• Analysts suggest Pakistan may now access U.S. weapons through Saudi funding.
• For Riyadh, the pact strengthens defences against Iran, Houthi militias, and instability triggered by Israel’s actions.

Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Ties with India

• Economic Partnership
  • Saudi Arabia is India’s fifth-largest trading partner, while India is its second-largest.
  • In FY 2023-24, bilateral trade reached USD 42.98 billion, with Indian exports at USD 11.56 billion and imports at USD 31.42 billion.
• Political and Strategic Milestones
  • Relations deepened with King Abdullah’s 2006 visit, leading to the Delhi Declaration, followed by the Riyadh Declaration in 2010 that elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership.
  • In 2016, PM Narendra Modi’s visit saw him receive Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honour, the ‘King Abdulaziz Sash’.
• Recent Engagements and Crisis Diplomacy
  • High-level exchanges have since continued. During PM Modi’s April 2025 visit, Saudi Arabia swiftly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
  • Its Minister of State for Foreign Affairs also visited during Operation Sindoor.
• Balanced Approach on Sensitive Issues
  • Saudi Arabia has maintained measured positions during India-Pakistan tensions — condemning terror attacks like Pulwama, but refraining from criticising India’s Article 370 abrogation or the Balakot strikes.
  • It has often positioned itself as a mediator, engaging with both neighbours.