Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign historic defense pact with quiet US ‘backing’

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have entered a historic mutual defense agreement that analysts say could alter the balance of power in the Middle East, with signs of quiet approval from Washington.

Signed in Riyadh on Sept. 17, the pact declares that an attack on one country will be considered an attack on both. It marks the first time Pakistan, the Muslim world’s only nuclear power, and Saudi Arabia, its largest economic force, have bound themselves to a joint security framework.

The agreement has been widely interpreted as a new “defense shield” for the Middle East, with Pakistan positioned as Saudi Arabia’s military guarantor. Behind the scenes, the role of the United States has been pivotal, according to Kamran Khan.

US presence in Riyadh

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper was present in Riyadh on the day of the signing. His meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman coincided with the announcement, reinforcing the impression that Washington had given quiet consent.

“Saudi Arabia, historically dependent on the U.S. for defense, would not have entered into such an agreement without consulting Washington,” Khan said.

President Donald Trump is set to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday, and it will be his second meeting with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in just four months. Trump has repeatedly praised Pakistan’s military leadership, underscoring what observers see as a warming relationship.

Catalyst: Israel’s strike on Qatar

The new pact comes amid heightened regional tensions. Israel’s missile strike on Qatar earlier this month rattled Gulf states, especially as Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military base outside American soil.

The attack “shattered the perception that the U.S. defense umbrella alone could guarantee Gulf security,” Khan noted. It opened the door for Pakistan to step in as a new security pillar, offering an “Islamic hybrid” defense model that combines local capacity with interoperability with U.S. systems.

Munir’s military diplomacy

The roots of the agreement lie in Field Marshal Munir’s sustained engagement with CENTCOM over the past year. In April and May, he visited Tampa, Florida, for talks on counterterrorism and regional security. In August, he attended the CENTCOM change-of-command ceremony, welcoming Cooper and praising outgoing commander Gen. Michael Kurilla.

Munir has also hosted U.S. military officials in Pakistan, including Kurilla’s June visit to Rawalpindi, where discussions covered Iran, Gulf Cooperation Council states, and intelligence sharing. The visits built momentum for closer cooperation.

“Continuous contacts between CENTCOM and Pakistan’s military leadership made the Saudi-Pakistan agreement possible,” Khan said. “It was not an overnight development.”

Iran’s surprising welcome

One of the most unexpected reactions came from Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian welcomed the pact, signaling a shift in Iran’s traditional opposition to Saudi defense buildup.

On the same day as the signing, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid phoned Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. A day earlier, he had met Ali Larijani, Iran’s national security adviser, in Riyadh.

“This shows Saudi Arabia is presenting the agreement not as aggressive unity but as a precautionary balance,” Khan said. He added that Iran’s willingness to consider joining an “Islamic hybrid” security model reflects shifting calculations after India’s recent departure from the Chabahar port project.

India raises concerns

India has voiced unease over the pact, urging Saudi Arabia to consider “Indian interests.” New Delhi fears the deal could affect energy supplies and tilt regional dynamics.

“India sees itself being edged out,” Khan said, pointing to Indian media coverage that has reluctantly acknowledged Pakistan’s diplomatic gains.

Nuclear undertones

Though the agreement makes no explicit mention of nuclear cooperation, Pakistan’s status as the Muslim world’s sole nuclear power looms large.

“Saudi Arabia has, in effect, gained an undeclared nuclear umbrella,” Khan said. The pact includes references to cooperation across all military resources, a clause that strengthens Riyadh’s sense of security.

From oil debtor to guarantor

For decades, Pakistan relied on Saudi oil loans to stabilize its economy. The new agreement, however, casts Islamabad in a new role — as security guarantor rather than borrower.

“This is a narrative shift,” Khan said. “The Islamic world is beginning to stand on its own for security.”

The development coincides with growing Western recognition of Palestine, further reshaping regional alignments.

A quiet US endorsement

Despite Israel’s strike in Qatar, CENTCOM’s visible presence at the signing underscored tacit U.S. support. Rather than viewing the pact as a threat, Washington appears to see it as a chance to manage a new security model.

“The Pakistan-Saudi mutual defense agreement carries America’s silent approval,” Khan concluded. “It reflects a reconfigured Middle East security order, with Pakistan emerging as its new pillar.”