Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Forge Defense Pact Amid Regional Tensions
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have entered into a extensive defense agreement, raising questions about a potential nuclear umbrella extending over the Middle East. The pact, formalized during a signing ceremony in Riyadh last week, encompasses all military means, according to a Saudi official.
The agreement comes amid heightened regional instability, particularly following a recent Israeli attack on Qatar on September 9th, targeting Hamas leadership. Several Gulf nations perceive Israel as a direct threat in the wake of the strike, which resulted in six fatalities. This has fueled a desire for independent security arrangements, lessening reliance on conventional allies.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja muhammad Asif stated the agreement could be expanded to include othre nations bordering the Gulf of persia,emphasizing,”We have no intention of using this agreement for aggression… But if the parties are threatened,the scheme will obviously take effect.”
The pact also reflects Saudi Arabia’s long-held ambition for a separate nuclear program to counter the nuclear capabilities of it’s regional rival, Iran, which maintains its program is solely for civilian purposes.
Concerns over the speed of the U.S. response to the Qatar attack have further eroded confidence in American security guarantees among Gulf states, according to Reuters. This perceived lack of swift support has accelerated the push for self-reliance and solidified the need for alternative defense partnerships like the one between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The agreement, thus, is largely driven by a need for independent security assurances, independent of external action.
