On September 17, local time, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan officially signed a joint defense agreement. Reuters that the move significantly strengthened the security partnership between the two countries for decades in the context of escalating regional tensions. Especially in the Gulf Arab countries, which have long regarded the United States as a “security guarantor” after the Israeli attack on Qatar last week, growing concerns about the reliability of the United States, so this strengthening of defense cooperation is important.
"This agreement is the result of years of discussions, not a response to a specific country or a specific event, but an institutionalization of long-term and in-depth cooperation between the two countries," a senior Saudi official told Reuters when asked about the timing of the agreement.
When asked whether Pakistan had an obligation to provide Saudi Arabia with a “nuclear umbrella” under the agreement, the Saudi official, reluctant to disclose his name, replied: “This is a comprehensive defense agreement that covers all military means.”
Pakistani state television broadcasts embraced after the agreement was signed between Pakistani Prime Minister Shabaz and Saudi Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed, with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff, Army Marshal Sayed Asim Munir present.
A statement from the Office of the Pakistani Prime Minister said: “This agreement reflects the two countries’ joint commitment to strengthening their own security, achieving regional and world security and peace, aiming at developing all aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthening joint deterrence against any aggression.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shabaz and Saudi Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed
Israel has previouslyly attempted to launch an airstrike against the country’s capital Doha in Qatar to help mediate a ceasefire in order to kill Hamas’ political leaders, a move that has angered the Arab country.
Especially last week, Israel’s “precision strike” against senior Hamas leaders in Doha killed six people, including a member of Qatar’s security forces, triggering shocks in the Middle East.
Today, the agreement signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could change the strategic pattern of this complex region.As an ally of the United States, the Gulf nation has been trying to stabilize relations with Iran and Israel to solve long-standing security issues.
However, the ongoing and even extravagant conflict in the Gaza Strip has disturbed the situation in the region, with the Gulf State of Qatar suffering direct strikes twice in a year, one from Iran (attacking U.S. military bases) and one from Israel (attacking Hamas leaders).
On the other hand, Saudi officials interviewed by Reuters also acknowledged that Saudi Arabia must maintain a balanced relationship with its Pakistan rival, India, which also has nuclear weapons, and that our relationship with India is stronger than ever before, and we will continue to develop this relationship and do everything we can to contribute to regional peace.”
Following the Israeli attack on Qatar on September 15, local time, more than 50 leaders from the Arab and Islamic world gathered in Doha to convene an emergency summit to protest Israel in a “unprecedented gesture of solidarity”.
On September 15, local time, Doha, Qatar, Qatar emir bin Hamad al-Alassani (CENTER) and leaders of countries, heads of state and other officials took photos during the 2025 Arab-Islamic Emergency Summit.
The joint statement adopted after the summit shows that the leaders of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have reached a consensus that they will jointly commit to suspending Israel’s membership in the United Nations.
The statement reads, "Considering Israel's flagrant violation of United Nations membership requirements and long-term disregard of United Nations resolutions, we decided to study whether Israel's membership conforms to the Charter of the United Nations, and at the same time coordinate the forces of all parties to promote the suspension of its membership. Work related to membership."
At the same time, participants stressed the importance of rebuilding the Gaza Strip as soon as possible and called on the international community to support “this process.”
Qatari officials revealed to The Independent that the meeting aimed at formulating a joint action plan. At present, Qatar is seeking to find a solution through legal channels and promote the process of suspending Israel's membership in the United Nations.
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