Planned diversification or US doubts? Why Saudi Arabia inked Pakistan security pact

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement on Wednesday, signaling Riyadh's readiness to hedge against perceived gaps in US protection amid broader Gulf skepticism over Washington's security guarantees.

The pact, which declares that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both," was announced jointly by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh. It comes less than two weeks after Israel’s strike against Hamas leaders in Doha and the emergency Arab-Islamic summit that followed. 

Why now? 

The pact comes against the backdrop of heightened insecurity across the Gulf. Israel’s Sept. 9 strikes on Doha, aimed at Hamas leaders discussing a ceasefire proposal, rattled Gulf capitals — particularly because just months earlier, Iran struck the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Doha during its June war with Israel.