Context of the Visit
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embarked on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, a trip that Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as occurring amidst "heightened tensions in the Gulf." Sharif's office further elaborated that the visit aims to enhance strategic cooperation, strengthen bilateral relations, and foster coordination on regional and international matters between the two nations.
This marks Sharif's third visit to Saudi Arabia within the current year. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Asim Munir, alongside other cabinet members. During his stay, the Pakistani leader is scheduled to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the enduring fraternal relations and partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the prevailing regional situation.
The timing of this visit is particularly significant, following Pakistan's recent inclusion in a new Saudi-led naval coalition focused on safeguarding Red Sea shipping lanes from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. Furthermore, the visit takes place amidst a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, coupled with ongoing discussions regarding the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan has historically played a role as a mediator between these two nations.
Pakistan's Objectives: Economic and Strategic
Prime Minister Sharif, who assumed office in 2024, has consistently emphasized the importance of strong ties with Riyadh. The two countries formalized their defense relationship with the signing of a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in September 2025. The current visit appears to be driven by a dual agenda: securing economic support and advancing strategic coordination.
Umer Karim, an associate fellow at the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), noted that Pakistan faces significant economic challenges and is seeking increased financial assistance from Saudi Arabia, including a request for a deferred oil facility. In exchange, Islamabad is expected to reaffirm its defense commitments to the Kingdom.
The visit also highlights Pakistan's intricate balancing act of various strategic priorities. Muhammad Faisal, a doctoral candidate specializing in Pakistan's foreign policy at the University of Technology Sydney, pointed out Pakistan's unique position as Riyadh's closest security partner, a mediator between Washington and Tehran, and a nation directly impacted by instability in critical maritime routes like the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. The inclusion of Army Chief Munir in the delegation underscores the prominent security dimension of these discussions.
Key Discussion Points: Trade, Defense, and Maritime Security
The agenda for the visit largely revolves around three core areas: trade, defense, and maritime security. The SMDA, signed in Riyadh, stipulates that an attack on one signatory will be considered an attack on both. Pakistan has already demonstrated its commitment under this agreement, including sending jets to a Saudi airbase, a move confirmed in April during US-Iran ceasefire talks hosted by Islamabad.
Additionally, Pakistan is one of the 14 founding members of the Saudi-led Red Sea coalition, established on July 30 following the Houthis' declaration of a blockade and their targeting of Saudi-linked shipping. Riyadh is slated to host the coalition's headquarters.
Faisal suggests that the defense pact primarily serves as a mechanism for deterrence and crisis coordination rather than fundamentally altering Pakistan's military posture in the Gulf through new deployments. Karim, however, offered a more nuanced perspective, describing the pact as a blend of signaling and deployments. He noted Islamabad's efforts to avoid appearing directly aligned against Iran while adopting a firmer stance against non-state actors such as the Houthis.
Influence of the Iran Conflict
The visit occurs more than five months after the conflict began on February 28, following US-Israeli strikes that targeted Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and its nuclear and military infrastructure. Pakistan had previously brokered a two-week ceasefire in April and facilitated a subsequent memorandum of understanding in June. However, this agreement faltered in July after Iranian forces reportedly struck commercial vessels that bypassed approved shipping routes, leading to retaliatory US strikes across Iran.
Consequently, Washington reimposed a naval blockade on Iran, while US President Donald Trump has vacillated between threats and renewed discussions for a deal, with Oman mediating talks concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, the Houthi blockade has opened a second maritime front in the Red Sea, disrupting shipping and contributing to rising oil prices.
In this volatile environment, Faisal argues that the SMDA enhances Pakistan's relevance as a security partner without necessitating a permanent shift towards a Gulf-centric military posture.
Mutual Gains and Balancing Acts
For Saudi Arabia, this visit presents an opportunity to reinforce its alliance with a trusted security partner, especially as confidence in long-term US protection appears less certain. It also strengthens Pakistan's role within the newly formed maritime coalition. For Pakistan, closer ties with Riyadh could translate into additional financial support and bolster its standing as a regional security actor, particularly at a time when its economy remains under considerable strain.
However, this strategy carries inherent challenges in balancing competing relationships. Pakistan shares a 900km (559-mile) border with Iran, maintains long-standing ties with Tehran, and continues to present itself as a neutral mediator between Iran and the US. Deeper defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia could complicate this delicate balancing act.
Karim warned that the greatest risk lies in the potential strain on Pakistan's current role as both a mediator and a security provider to Saudi Arabia, particularly if Iran and its proxies continue their attacks. Faisal echoed this sentiment, noting that Pakistan has historically maintained "strategic flexibility" in the Gulf, avoiding commitments that would directly involve it in regional conflicts while preserving relationships with both Riyadh and Tehran. He concluded that a more intense Saudi-Iran rivalry would gradually erode this carefully calibrated balancing strategy, compelling Pakistan to make difficult trade-offs between maintaining key security partnerships and ensuring broader regional stability.
