 Print
Exploring the Impact of Pakistan–Saudi Arabia Military Cooperation on the Global Balance of Power
9-20-2025
On September 17, 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, marking a historic deepening of their decades-long security partnership. The pact, endorsed by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commits that any act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act of aggression against both. Beyond this core clause of mutual defence, the agreement outlines expanded cooperation in joint deterrence, military training, intelligence sharing, and broader defence coordination. Signed against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions—including Iranian influence and ongoing Middle East conflicts—the deal underscores Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of stronger regional security guarantees and Pakistan’s role as a nuclear-armed ally. Analysts suggest the agreement could reshape the regional balance of power, strengthen Riyadh’s deterrence posture, and signal a new phase in Islamabad’s strategic outreach to Gulf partners.
Military cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia isn’t new—it is a historic alliance that has evolved over decades. Recent developments and hard data, however, show that this relationship is intensifying and taking on greater global significance. Below, we explore not only how this cooperation began and functions, but also its implications in light of recent defense spending, arms trade figures, and regional dynamics.
I. Historical Foundations
From the 1950s and 1960s onward, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia forged deep military ties. Pakistan helped build and train units of the Saudi National Guard, provided training to Saudi officers, and facilitated defense education. Over time, joint military exercises, training exchanges, and arms procurement deals have made this relationship a cornerstone of both countries’ defense strategies.
II. Key Drivers of the Alliance
Three main forces continue to reinforce the partnership:
Shared Perceptions of Threat — Both nations see instability in the region (terrorism, sectarian conflict, tensions with Iran) as mutual concerns.
Strategic Geography & Diplomacy — Pakistan’s location and influence in South Asia gives Saudi Arabia strategic depth, while Saudi financial and diplomatic backing helps Pakistan.
Economic & Industrial Collaboration — Saudi Arabia’s push under Vision 2030 to localize defense production, and Pakistan’s defense industry readiness, make cooperation not just strategic but economically beneficial.
III. Recent Data & Key Agreements
To understand scale:
Saudi Arabia’s military budget for 2024 was about US$75.8 billion, rising to US$78 billion in 2025. This represents 21% of Saudi government spending and roughly 7.1% of its GDP.
Saudi’s defense spending is now among the top five globally; it is the highest in the Arab world.
Although Pakistan’s overall arms trade with Saudi Arabia is modest in certain categories, recent trade data shows that arms, ammunition, and related parts exports from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia were US$794,450 in 2024.
Trading Economics
Pakistan’s general exports to Saudi Arabia, beyond military hardware, are much larger—about US$734 million in 2024—covering agricultural products, textiles, foodstuffs, etc.
Trading Economics
Recent strategic agreements have amplified the commitment:
A strategic mutual defense pact signed in September 2025 binds both nations to respond jointly in case either is attacked. Observers note that this may include extended deterrent guarantees, possibly even under what is being informally called Pakistan’s “nuclear umbrella.”
The partnership is increasingly formalized, not just in training, but in shared intelligence, expanded cooperation in defense procurement, and bilateral technology transfer.
IV. Regional & Global Impacts
Regional Dynamics:
The alliance gives Saudi Arabia enhanced deterrence, particularly against Iran and Iran-affiliated militias.
Pakistan’s support, particularly diplomatic or possibly strategic in nature via this pact, affects its balancing act between Gulf politics and its relations with both Iran and India.
Implications for South Asia:
India watches these developments closely, particularly because of Pakistan’s historical rivalry with India. Any substantial Saudi backing of Pakistan (militarily or strategically) can affect India’s calculations.
Global Balance:
With Saudi defense expenditure placing it among the top military spenders globally, its partnership with Pakistan offers an alternate bloc of influence beyond traditional US-led alliances.
As Saudi Arabia pursues localization of its defense industry under Vision 2030, this partnership may create new centers of military production and influence in Asia/Middle East.
V. Challenges & Constraints
Even with strong momentum, there are several impediments:
Economic Pressures — Saudi Arabia must balance massive defense spending with domestic development goals; Pakistan carries heavy debt burdens and often depends on foreign aid and remittances.
Political Complexity — Pakistan has to balance regional relations, including with Iran; likewise, Saudi Arabia must manage international expectations, US ties, and internal political demands.
Technology & Dependence — While Saudi Arabia is pushing localization, it still relies heavily on foreign suppliers for advanced systems. Pakistan’s military-industrial capabilities are growing, but scaling up to match Saudi needs is a tall order.
VI. What This Means for the Global Order
As large regional states build deeper military ties, the global balance of power is subtly shifting:
Non-aligned or regional defense pacts become more meaningful as both an alternative and complement to traditional alliances like NATO or US bilateral partnerships.
Multipolarity is reinforced—countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan may exert more independent defense and foreign policy choices, less reliant on Western supply chains or guarantees.
VII. Conclusion
Pakistan–Saudi Arabia military cooperation has long been a fixture in regional geopolitics. But as recent spending, formal defense pacts, and arms transaction data show, the relationship is entering a newer, more consequential phase.
Saudi Arabia’s military budget—nearing US$80 billion—signals its intent to be not merely a regional power but a self-reliant defense industrial force.
Pakistan’s role, while economically limited in hardware exports, is strategically magnified via formal defense agreements and shared security responsibilities.
This cooperation shifts regional deterrence balances, reshapes South Asian strategic calculations, and contributes to a more complex global security architecture—one where regional alliances, technological autonomy, and economic linkages matter as much as ideological alignment.
As these developments continue, observers should pay close attention to transparency, arms trade oversight, and diplomacy—lest these partnerships contribute not just to security but to arms races and instability.
Footnotes:
|