Скачать или смотреть #SAUDI

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Historic Mutual Defense Pact

On September 17, 2025, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the *Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA)* in Riyadh's Al Yamamah Palace. This landmark pact formalizes decades of close military and economic ties, committing both nations to a **collective security arrangement**: any act of aggression against one will be treated as an attack on both, enabling joint deterrence and response.

#### Key Provisions and Implications
**Joint Deterrence**: The agreement enhances defense cooperation, including joint training, naval coordination, and potential expansion of Pakistani troop deployments in Saudi Arabia. It builds on existing partnerships, such as Saudi loans totaling $3 billion to bolster Pakistan's
**Nuclear Dimension**: While not explicitly stated, the pact is widely interpreted as extending Pakistan's nuclear capabilities to Saudi Arabia as a "nuclear umbrella" against regional threats like Iran or escalating conflicts involving Israel and Yemen's Houthis. A senior Saudi official described it as a "comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means," fueling speculation about nuclear sharing—though Pakistan's defense minister later clarified it's "not on the radar."
**Broader Geopolitics**: This deal signals Gulf states' growing doubts about U.S. security guarantees, especially after Israel's September 9, 2025, airstrikes on Doha, Qatar, which exposed vulnerabilities in GCC defense frameworks. Saudi Arabia is diversifying alliances beyond the U.S., where 40,000–50,000 troops are stationed across the region but perceived as unreliable.
It could slow Saudi-India economic ties due to New Delhi's rivalry with Pakistan and may inspire similar pacts with UAE or Qatar.

#### Regional Context and Reactions
The pact emerges amid heightened Middle East tensions, including the Gaza conflict's spillover, Houthi threats, and Pakistan's brief May 2025 clash with India. Experts view it as a "hedge against Iran" and a symbolic boost for Pakistan's regional relevance, pairing Riyadh's wealth with Islamabad's nuclear-armed forces.
reactions range from celebration of Pakistan's "rising stronger" through alliances to concerns over U.S. policy shifts, with users noting it as a "counterpunch" to waning American commitments . Indian voices highlight tensions, linking it to broader South Asian dynamics.

This agreement marks a "watershed" in reshaping Middle East-South Asia security dynamics, prioritizing mutual deterrence in an era of eroding traditional alliance statements from Saudi Press Agency or Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.