The Jerusalem Post has published an opinion article by Israeli analyst Yoel Guzansky, assessing the recently signed defence agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The piece argues that while the pact was widely reported as a landmark development, its true weight lies more in symbolism than in operational commitments.
Guzansky, a senior researcher, described the pact’s central clause — which states that an attack on one country will be treated as an attack on both — as dramatic and reminiscent of NATO’s Article 5. However, he emphasised that the language does not translate into a new strategic breakthrough but rather reflects decades of longstanding military cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad.
According to the article, Pakistan has maintained a military presence in Saudi Arabia for decades, with 1,500–2,000 soldiers currently deployed in training, advisory, and security roles. Pakistani troops, Guzansky noted, have been called upon during periods of crisis since the 1960s, making the new pact part of a wider continuum of cooperation rather than a turning point.
A particularly sensitive dimension of the relationship, Guzansky observed, concerns the nuclear question. Rumours of a potential Pakistani “nuclear umbrella” for Riyadh have circulated for years, partly due to Saudi financial backing for Pakistan’s uranium enrichment programme. Yet, he underlined that the latest agreement makes no reference to nuclear weapons, and Pakistan continues to insist that its arsenal is solely intended as a deterrent against India.
The researcher suggested that the timing of the agreement reflects Saudi Arabia’s heightened concerns over regional instability, especially following Israel’s unprecedented strike in Qatar and continuing hostilities with Iran. In this environment, he said, Riyadh aims to demonstrate that it is not isolated, but backed by a large, nuclear-armed Muslim ally.
Still, Guzansky cautioned that the pact does not constitute an unconditional guarantee. Pakistan, he recalled, has previously resisted Saudi requests, most notably its refusal to join the kingdom’s war in Yemen in 2015. Similarly, Saudi Arabia is unlikely to intervene in any future conflict between Pakistan and India. He argued that the agreement is primarily a political declaration, aimed at reassuring domestic audiences, signalling to rivals, and reminding Washington that Riyadh is exploring alternative security frameworks.
Beyond defence, Guzansky highlighted the wider foundations of the alliance, including oil credits, financial aid, the presence of millions of Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, and religious ties through the Hajj. The pact, he suggested, formalises existing relations but also adds layers of ambiguity by making them more public.
For Israel, Guzansky advised against interpreting the pact as a hostile alignment. Instead, he urged Tel Aviv to quietly strengthen its dialogue with Riyadh while projecting reassurance. He concluded that the Saudi-Pakistan pact is less about operational defence guarantees and more about strategic signalling — to Iran, to the domestic sphere, and to the United States. Israel, he said, should recognise this shifting strategic landscape and position itself as a constructive partner in maintaining regional security.
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