Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a NATO-based "Attack on One = Attack on Both" defense agreement
Nuclear-armed Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a NATO-style 'Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement' named "Attack on One = Attack on Both." In fact, the timing of this agreement appears to be a signal to Israel, which has rung alarm bells in Arab countries, as Israeli operations are increasing in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Qatar.
- The words of the 'Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement' signed between Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan on September 17, 2025, have surprised people. Without naming any country, the agreement said, "Any aggression against either will be considered aggression against both."
- This NATO-style defense agreement and the terminology of "Attack on One = Attack on Both" will be seen as a major diplomatic victory in Islamabad. The agreement can be seen as a strategic deterrent against India.
- Although Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have had informal defense relations for decades, this latest agreement is an important step towards formalizing security cooperation among Islamic countries. It also marks the redefinition of Saudi-Pakistan relations after years of cold ties.
- However, experts and geopolitical analysts say that this agreement does not mean Saudi Arabia will go to war with India for Pakistan. The ground reality is completely different, and the timing of the announcement is separate.
NATO (NATO):
- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO is an inter-governmental military alliance formed on April 4, 1949. During the Cold War, NATO acted as a deterrent against Soviet expansionism, with the United States providing significant military support to its European allies.
- The original 12 founding members of NATO included Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The alliance currently has 32 member countries.
- NATO’s primary mission is collective defense as stated in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Relation with India
- Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth-largest trading partner, while New Delhi is Riyadh’s second-largest trading partner. In the financial year 2024-25, bilateral trade stood at USD 41.88 billion. The two countries share deep economic and socio-cultural ties.
- On the other hand, trade between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia barely amounts to USD 3-4 billion. Therefore, it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia will go against India.
- India has reacted cautiously, saying that this agreement "formalizes a long-term arrangement" between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Signal to Israel
- In fact, the timing of this agreement appears to be a signal to Israel, as it came just days after an attack targeting Hamas’s political leadership in Qatar. This has rung alarm bells in Arab countries, as Israeli operations are increasing in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Qatar.
- Furthermore, Gulf countries are aware that Israel is the only nuclear-armed country in the Middle East. Therefore, this Saudi-Pakistan confrontation is more about sending a message of solidarity and presenting a united front of the broader Islamic bloc.
- In addition, Saudi Arabia has for years indicated its interest in Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program. It is widely believed that Saudi Arabia has quietly financed it.
Saudi - Pak
- In the event of a future conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, Pakistani troops could be motivated to support Riyadh under the provision of "Attack on One = Attack on Both."
- Since 1967, Pakistan has trained more than 8,000 Saudi military personnel. Amid growing tensions over Egypt’s war in Yemen, Pakistani troops also visited Saudi Arabia in the 1960s.
- In fact, relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia deteriorated after Islamabad refused to send troops for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen in 2015.
