Analyzing the Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Defense Pact and Its Geopolitical Implications for the Israel - Palestine Conflict

Abstract

The Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Defense Pact of September 2025 represents a significant development in contemporary Middle Eastern and South Asian geopolitics. As two influential Muslim-majority states, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have historically maintained strong religious, economic, and strategic ties. However, the formalization of a defense agreement elevates their partnership to a new level of institutionalized military and security cooperation. This study analyzes the pact within the broader context of the Israel–Palestine conflict, which continues to remain at the heart of global political tensions. The research highlights how the pact is perceived as both a symbolic and strategic move to counterbalance Israeli influence and reaffirm support for the Palestinian cause. It further examines the regional implications, particularly for Iran, Turkey, and Qatar, as well as the global responses from the United States, China, Russia, and the European Union. While the pact has the potential to strengthen the Palestinian position diplomatically, its practical impact on the ground remains constrained by complex realities, including internal political, economic, and military limitations of both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The study concludes that the defense pact is not only a bilateral security arrangement but also a geopolitical statement that may reshape alliances in the Muslim world. It highlights the joint of defense cooperation, regional rivalries, and global power politics in shaping the trajectory of the Israel - Palestine conflict.