Gulf security: Saudi Arabia now relies on Pakistan’s nuclear power
Just days after the surprise signing of a mutual defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, an analyst close to the royal court confirmed that the kingdom would now benefit from the protection of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, Ali Shihabi, a well-known commentator with ties to the Saudi leadership, stated that Islamabad’s “nuclear umbrella” now officially covers Riyadh.
According to him, this long-prepared agreement is driven by strategic and security logic, reinforced by the regional context marked by a recent Israeli strike against Hamas leaders in neighboring Qatar.
Shihabi recalled that Saudi Arabia had significantly contributed to funding Pakistan’s nuclear program and supported Islamabad when it faced international sanctions. “Yes, nuclear is an integral part of the agreement,” he asserted, adding that the kingdom expected India, Pakistan’s historic rival, to “understand its security needs,” while also stressing that Riyadh maintains strong relations with New Delhi.
These statements were confirmed by Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, who recently told a local channel that his country’s nuclear capabilities could be made available to Saudi Arabia if necessary.
The defense agreement, signed in Riyadh, comes amid a tense regional climate. The Israeli strike in Qatar has unsettled the Gulf monarchies, long accustomed to relying on the United States for their protection.
This pact therefore represents a major strategic reorientation, illustrating Riyadh’s desire to diversify its security alliances.
This cooperation also follows a deadly four-day conflict between India and Pakistan last May, which resulted in over 70 casualties.
Saudi Arabia had played a key role in de-escalating that conflict, all while maintaining its energy ties with India, whose economy is heavily dependent on Saudi oil exports.
Beyond energy, relations between Riyadh and Islamabad are built on decades of political, economic, and human proximity, with over 2.5 million Pakistanis living and working in the kingdom.
This new pact solidifies a long-standing strategic alliance, now endowed with an unprecedented nuclear dimension.
