Saudi Arabia Pakistan Sign Strategic Mutual Defence Pact

On September 17, 2025, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement that commits both nations to consider any aggression against one as an aggression against both, signaling the formation of a potential "Islamic NATO." This pact, reflecting decades of prior military cooperation, notably includes Pakistan's offer to make its nuclear deterrence capabilities available to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in Middle Eastern and South Asian security dynamics amid growing doubts about U.S. reliability as a security guarantor. The alliance is viewed as a strategic recalibration that could reshape regional power balances, with Pakistan's enhanced role potentially encircling India's influence and economic ties strengthening through Saudi investments and energy cooperation. The pact also resonates politically and symbolically, with leaders like Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman praising it as a unifying step for the Muslim world and a foundation for collective Islamic security. Analysts suggest this defense arrangement may serve as a precursor to broader regional coalitions and a new security architecture in West Asia, possibly overshadowing existing economic corridors and encouraging renewed dialogue including Iran. Overall, this agreement underscores a shift towards minilateral security alliances in global geopolitics, reflecting evolving alignments in the Global South.