"Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan inked a mutual defense agreement this week, marking a significant strengthening of their security partnership. It reflects the "shared commitment" of both nations to bolster security, promote regional peace and jointly deter any aggression, said Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the pact on Wednesday in Riyadh. Pakistani state television captured the moment when the two leaders embraced, with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, considered the most powerful man in the country, also present."
"The deal states that "any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both," according to statements issued by both Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry and the state-run Saudi Press Agency. "This agreement ... aims to develop aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression," the statement said."
"Few details of the accord have been disclosed, but Pakistan's defense minister said on Thursday his nation's nuclear program "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia if needed under the pact. Speaking to Geo TV in an interview late Thursday night, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif made the comments while answering a question on whether "the deterrence that Pakistan gets from nuclear weapons" will be made available to Saudi Arabia. "Let me make one point clear about Pakistan's nuclear capability: that capability was established long ago when we conducted tests. Since then, we have forces trained for the battlefield," Asif said. "What we have, and the capabilities we possess, will be made available to [Saudi Arabia] according to this agreement," he added."
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan formalized a mutual defense agreement that binds each to treat aggression against one as aggression against both. Senior leaders, including Pakistan's prime minister and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, signed the pact in Riyadh amid visible military presence. The agreement aims to develop defense cooperation and strengthen joint deterrence while promoting regional peace. Few operational details have been released, but Pakistan's defense minister stated Pakistan's nuclear capability and trained forces "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia under the pact if needed.
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