On 17 September, Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, signed a bilateral defence agreement aimed at strengthening the military cooperation between the two countries.
In a joint statement, the two sides said that the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” (SDMA) “aims to develop aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.”
In addition, the SDMA also includes a statement that suggests that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
Get access to this article and all other Quwa content today.
Click Here
Related Reads
Historically, Pakistan was a key contributor of manpower and training to Saudi Arabia in the 1980s, with some accounts citing the presence of a Pakistani armoured brigade stationed in Tabuk from 1982 to 1988, alongside hundreds, if not thousands, of military advisers posted in other roles and regions. In his book, “Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within,” Shuja Nawaz cites that up to 40,000 Pakistani troops and officers may have been posted to Saudi Arabia through the 1980s.
Quwa Plus
Go Beyond the Headlines on Pakistan’s Defence and Security.
Quwa Plus gives you deeper reporting, briefings, and analysis on Pakistan’s defence programs, foreign policy, national security, and regional strategy. Follow the developments that matter to professionals, analysts, and serious readers tracking Pakistan’s security landscape.
Join ($29.99/Year) Already a subscriber?Sign in
