Pakistan & Saudi Arabia Strengthen Defence Ties: Munir-Salman Meeting

RIYADH – Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met on Thursday to discuss joint efforts to promote global peace and security, according to a statement released by the Saudi Defense Minister on X.

Prince Khalid bin Salman stated that the meeting served to “reaffirm our strong relations and strategic defense partnership,” adding that they discussed “our joint efforts to promote global peace and security in a manner that serves our shared interests.”

The meeting between the Saudi and Pakistani defense officials comes after both nations signed a landmark “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” in September of last year. The agreement stipulates that any aggression against either country will be considered an aggression against both, reflecting a shared commitment to regional and global security. The pact aims to strengthen joint deterrence and enhance defense cooperation between the two countries.

The signing of the defense pact occurred during a visit to Riyadh by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a long history of strategic and defense cooperation, with Pakistan providing military support to the kingdom, including training and advisory deployments. Saudi Arabia has, in turn, provided financial assistance to Pakistan during times of economic hardship, including a $6 billion support package announced in 2018, comprised of a $3 billion deposit at the central bank and $3 billion in deferred oil supplies.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly rolled over these deposits, most recently with a $1.2 billion deferment last year, to help stabilize Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves. Recent discussions have reportedly focused on potentially converting approximately $2 billion of Saudi loans into a deal for JF-17 fighter jets, according to two Pakistani sources.

Further signaling a renewed strategic alignment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili in Islamabad in November to review defense cooperation, counterterrorism coordination, and regional stability.