A top American geopolitical analyst said this week’s Pakistan-Saudi Arabia’s mutual defense pact, which declares attack on either country as an attack on both, is likely to significantly alter India’s security calculations.
Ian Bremmer, the founder of Eurasia Group, noted that the agreement that formalizes a long-standing understanding on Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities as being part of Saudi Arabia’s defense, will make Pakistan feel “geopolitically stronger.”
He was commenting on Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) inked in Riyadh by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The move is being seen as a major development that could reshape strategic alignments across South Asia, and the Middle East. Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense
Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense
In momentous development, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign defense pact
Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense
According to Bremmer the agreement will add a new layer of complexity to potential military conflicts with India. Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar indicated other countries could join the defense pact as they have shown interest in being part of the agreement.
Regarding Pakistan-Indian tensions, Bremmer told India Today TV that there was a chance that there could be another military altercation between India and Pakistan.
However, with the new pact in place, Riyadh would come to Islamabad’s aid.
Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense
From Saudi-Pak pact to Trump’s China policy: Ian Bremmer inputs
In an interview with India Today TV, #IanBremmer discussed #Saudi–#Pakistan defense ties, #Trump‘s #China tariffs, #Modi–#Putin optics, and India’s positioning in a leaderless “G-Zero world” marked by shifting… pic.twitter.com/tJppXqXg25
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Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense
“If I’m India that has to factor into my calculations. That’s going to change life for India, no question,” he remarked. Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense
China, he reckoned, would remain their principal ally as most of their military support comes from Beijing but Islamabad is also finding other partners.
Pakistan and India engaged in a three-day deadly conflict in May following a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan shot down at least five Indian warplanes including advanced French Rafale jets, a development, which according to Pakistani expert Najam Sethi, amplified Pakistan’s strategic status as a battle-hardened and resolute country.
Pakistani experts say, apart from the unending Gaza conflict, Pakistan’s convincing performance against India in the May conflict and Israel’s recent strike in Doha, Qatar, may have been catalysts in quickening progress toward the defense pact between Islamabad and Riyadh, though two countries have long been defense partners.
Pakistan says pact with Saudi Arabia defensive; India looks at sensitivities
In his analysis, Bremmer claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s crypto investments in Pakistan are making Islamabad more confident and stronger.
On Pakistan-Saudi bilateral relations, Bremmer noted that Riyadh has been supportive of Pakistan’s nuclear program.
“Yes, it is true that Saudi Arabia has been helping to fund Pakistan and their plutonium program for many, many years,” he said.
“And it had been an open secret that Saudi Arabia in an event of crisis considered Pakistan’s nuclear program to be Saudi Arabia’s emergency nuclear program if they ever needed it.,” he added.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has emphasized the defensive nature of the agreement. Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan described the pact as “an important milestone for promoting peace and security in the region and the world.”
New Delhi, which also has a robust trade and investment relationship with Saudi Arabia, has said it is studying the agreement but also underscored the need for keeping in consideration India’s sensitivities.
“We will study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability. The Government remains committed to protecting India’s national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains,” a statement said.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India and Saudi Arabia have a wide-ranging strategic partnership which has deepened considerably in the last several years. We expect that this strategic partnership will keep in mind mutual interests and sensitivities.”
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Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
