By Amir Muhammad Khan
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia and Ukraine forged a surprise defence pact on Saturday, signaling Riyadh’s pivot from traditional ally Pakistan amid intensifying Iranian missile attacks on Kingdom soil, reported daily Metro Morning.
The agreement, signed by senior officials in Riyadh, merged Saudi financial muscle with Kyiv’s battle-tested drone technology to sharpen Saudi defences against Tehran and other regional aggressions. The move arrives at a flashpoint. Iran launched fresh strikes on Saudi energy sites and border positions this week, but Riyadh withheld counterstrikes at Pakistan’s diplomatic behest.
Gulf insiders expressed exasperation. “Pakistan’s hesitance leaves us exposed,” one analyst linked to the royal court told reporters anonymously. Saudi decision-makers, sources indicated, see Islamabad’s caution as inadequate bulwark against Persian incursions. Long reliant on Pakistan for security coordination, Saudi Arabia now diversifies amid fraying ties.
The Kingdom has pumped billions into Pakistan over years – flood relief, budget bailouts, port ventures – yet shares a prickly border and robust trade with Iran, complicating loyalties. Experts flagged a burgeoning rift that could imperil economic lifelines. The pact’s ripples extended to the White House.
Saudi aircraft patrolled near Iranian assets recently without engaging, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman mulled overtures from Russia and China. For Pakistan, stakes mount. War-disrupted shipping has boosted its ports like Karachi and Gwadar, but cooling Saudi relations threaten fallout. As Gulf clashes persist, the deal spotlights alliance flux in a powder-keg region, with Riyadh arming up and old partnerships under strain.
