In the grand halls of Riyadh’s royal palaces, where the air carries the smell of incense and strong purpose, two leaders came together on September 17, 2025. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed a deal that feels like a big shake-up in the Middle East.
This Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, or SMDA, says that if one country is attacked, it’s like attacking both.
This sounds a lot like NATO’s famous Article 5, where members promise to defend each other. But this agreement is different—it’s between just two countries, and it hints at Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, about 170 of them, which Saudi Arabia has wanted for years.
Has the Kingdom, which guards the sentiments of millions, basically rented a nuclear shield from its friend without building its own? Has Pakistan opened up a shop selling protection to other countries?
This isn’t just a simple agreement; it’s a smart move that could bring Islamic nations closer or start a big worry about nuclear spread from Iran to Israel. Pakistan has started a trend of ‘RENT THE BOMB’.
The signing event was full of symbols—green and white flags waving like proud banners, the two men in traditional robes and suits shaking hands under high ceilings. But behind the pictures lies a deeper story.
For more than 50 years, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been close allies. The Saudis have sent billions of dollars—over $30 billion since the 1980s—to help Pakistan with its military and economy.
In return, Pakistan has sent soldiers to protect Mecca and Medina, like during the 1979 takeover of the Grand Mosque, and trained Saudi troops to fight rebels. It was a fair trade:
Pakistan, stuck between big India and troubled Afghanistan, needed money to build its nuclear program after losing half its country in 1971. Saudi Arabia, surrounded by enemies like revolutionary Iran and Iraq, wanted a strong Sunni partner.
Hellbound and Down 