Saudi-Pakistan Pact Signals Waning US Role: Gulf analyst

News Desk

Islamabad/Riyadh: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a landmark mutual defense pact, signaling a shift in the Gulf’s security architecture as Arab states hedge against what they see as diminishing US guarantees and rising regional volatility.

The agreement, inked in Riyadh on Wednesday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, commits both countries to view aggression against either as an attack on both—a clause that elevates their decades-old security ties into a formal alliance.

Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, attended the signing, underscoring the military weight behind the deal.

While officials in both capitals described the pact as the “institutionalization” of longstanding cooperation, analysts see it as part of a broader recalibration. Recent shocks—including Israel’s airstrikes on Doha that targeted Hamas leaders engaged in Qatari-mediated ceasefire talks, and Iran’s earlier strikes on the Gulf state—have rattled confidence in Washington’s security umbrella.

“The pact is not simply bilateral—it reflects shifting regional calculations,” said a senior Gulf analyst. “Saudi Arabia is diversifying its security partnerships at a time when both Iran and Israel are unpredictable, and the US is no longer viewed as a reliable first responder.”

For Pakistan, the deal marks a significant upgrade in its regional role, months after its brief military flare-up with India in May. It could also bolster Islamabad’s cash-strapped economy through increased defense cooperation and potential Saudi investments, while giving Riyadh access to Pakistan’s extensive military expertise.

India, watching closely, acknowledged the development. Foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi would “study its implications for India’s security and regional stability.”

The pact also raises sensitive questions about nuclear security. While Pakistani officials avoided specifics, a senior Saudi source told Reuters the agreement covers “all military means,” fueling speculation about whether Riyadh might seek a form of nuclear deterrence via Islamabad.

Despite the bold step with Pakistan, Saudi officials emphasized that their growing relationship with India would not be undermined. “Our ties with India are more robust than ever, and we will continue to expand them,” the Saudi official said.

The Gaza war has already reshaped the Middle East’s fragile order, and with Qatar finding itself under direct fire from both Iran and Israel, Riyadh’s pact with Islamabad could mark the start of a wider Gulf security realignment—one in which the US plays a smaller, and perhaps diminishing, role. Input from CNN website.