Key facts
- Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops to Saudi Arabia.
- A squadron of around 16 Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets, jointly produced with China, has been deployed.
- A Chinese HQ-9 air defense system has been deployed to Saudi Arabia.
- The deployments are part of a mutual defense pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
- The US-Israeli war on Iran has put a spotlight on Saudi Arabia's defense pact with Pakistan.
- The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a NATO-inspired pact, was established between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.
Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of approximately 16 JF-17 fighter jets produced jointly with China, and a Chinese HQ-9 air defense system to Saudi Arabia as part of a mutual defense pact. These deployments, which began in early April, aim to bolster Saudi Arabia's defenses following recent deadly Houthi attacks on Riyadh's main airport and amid heightened regional tensions.
The US-Israeli war on Iran has intensified focus on the defense pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, signed in September 2025. The agreement allows for the potential deployment of up to 80,000 Pakistani troops to secure the kingdom's borders. The presence of Chinese weaponry in Saudi Arabia complements existing US-made systems, such as Patriot and Thaad air defense systems.
Recent events, including Houthi threats to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea lifeline and Iran's response to the US-Israeli attack with drones and missiles, have underscored the importance of these security arrangements. The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a NATO-inspired pact, was established between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, stipulating that an attack on one would be considered an attack on all.