“Nuclear Bombs On Rent”? Has Saudi Arabia Just Rented Pakistan’s Nukes By Signing Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement? OPED

Thursday, September 18, 2025


“Nuclear Bombs On Rent”? Has Saudi Arabia Just Rented Pakistan’s Nukes By Signing Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement? OPED

By MJ Augustine Vinod



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.



The nuclear part has always been the tricky center of this friendship. Back in the 1970s, as Pakistan’s scientist A.Q. Khan built the country’s secret bomb program, Saudi money helped pay for much of it—up to 60% of the main factory in Kahuta.


There was a quiet deal: If Saudi Arabia ever faced a real danger, Pakistan would share a weapon. By the 2010s, reports came out that Saudi leaders talked openly about getting ready-made nukes from Pakistan, something Pakistan denied but never fully explained.

In recent years, things changed a bit—Saudi Arabia’s young leader MBS tried to make peace with Iran and even talked about deals with Israel. But the war in Gaza starting in October 2023, plus America’s pullback under a new “America First” policy, changed everything.

During Sharif’s visit to Riyadh, they signed the SMDA to “improve defense work together and make each other safer.” Simply put, it’s a shift: Saudi Arabia doesn’t want to rely only on U.S. ships anymore; it wants its own backup with a real weapon. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR SETBACKS FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.


The agreement draws on some ideas from NATO—Article 4 for discussing threats, and Article 5 for collective defense—but it’s simpler, just between two nations in a busy world.


Without NATO’s big setup, this means quick meetings, shared training, and info on threats like attacks from Yemen’s Houthis or India’s fast missiles. It doesn’t mention nukes directly, but everyone knows Pakistan’s weapons are the big draw.

It’s like having protection without owning the gun—Pakistan’s missiles, like the Shaheen-III that can fly 2,750 kilometers and reach anywhere in Saudi Arabia, give the Kingdom a credible safety net.

So, who gets more out of this deal? Saudi Arabia comes out ahead. The country has a huge $700 billion investment fund, but its army still struggles to work together and make quick decisions.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sign the Joint Strategic Defense Agreement

Pakistan’s nuclear power gives Saudi Arabia a strong warning to enemies without the headaches of making its own bomb, like UN inspections or fights at home over it being against Islam.

Money-wise, Saudi Arabia holds the cards; expect $5-10 billion in new deals for weapons and projects to help Pakistan’s $100 billion debt problem. This isn’t just help—it’s a way for Saudi to keep control, like giving fuel to a car but holding the keys.

Pakistan doesn’t lose out either. This deal makes it look like the protector of all Muslims, a role it grabbed with its 1998 nuclear tests that scared India and impressed friends. In practice, it means better Saudi tech for Pakistan’s air force, like radar planes to spot dangers, and shared secrets to fight groups like the Taliban in the border areas and against India, as IAF exposed Pakistan’s weakness in Operation Sindoor.

For Prime Minister Sharif and his party, it’s a win against money troubles from groups like the IMF. But it’s not even—Pakistan’s nukes make it seem strong, but Saudi money decides how fast things move. If Israel attacked Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s fight back would depend on how much cash is flowing, not just loyalty. Saudi gets real safety layers; Pakistan gets praise, but Saudi pulls the strings and the purse.

The idea of a “nuclear umbrella” is the most exciting and scary part.

Has Saudi Arabia bought protection from nuclear attack without having the weapons itself? Yes, straight up. It’s not selling bombs like in the old spy stories—no machines sneaked over borders. Instead, it’s like summoning an umbrella from an impoverished neighbor: Saudi avoids the rules and anger at home and gets a direct call to Pakistan’s nuclear bosses. Old papers from 1988 show Saudi missiles were set up to carry Pakistani warheads if needed.

Experts worry this brings back old fears of more countries getting nukes, especially if Iran starts building again. People are split: Some cheer it as Muslim unity, others call it just words on paper, since Saudi Arabia’s close ties to America make it unlikely ever to use it. More than the SMDA (Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement), it’s a slap in the face for the Trump administration, a direct indication of Uncle Sam losing the plot.

Is this mainly to stop attacks from Israel? The timing says yes. Since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, the area is on edge: Rockets from Lebanon, drones from Yemen, and Iran’s helpers all around.

Israel, with U.S. help in hitting Iran, sees Saudi Arabia as the next friend in peace deals. But the Gaza fighting stopped those talks, with the Saudis demanding a Palestinian country first.

This agreement is Saudi Arabia’s clear message: We’re looking for other friends besides America and Israel. Pakistan’s missiles could, in theory, reach Israel’s nuclear site, even if it’s a stretch over distance, adding real weight.

Saudi’s defense minister said after the signing: “Pakistan and Saudi Arabia stand as one against any attacker, always.” That’s code for: Stay away, or deal with both of us. It’s smart planning, and a big message to Washington DC.

This could spread to other Muslim countries. Will more join up with Pakistan for this protection? Signs point to yes, in a patchwork way. Turkey, with its strong leader and home-made missiles, might team up for safety against Russia. Egypt, after its idea for an Arab defense group got ignored, could make its own deal with Pakistan, mixing its big army with Pakistani know-how.

Jordan and the UAE might watch from the side; even big Indonesia talks about joint sea training. Egypt’s plan looks like it was meant to split—Saudi Arabia chose Pakistan instead. This could lead to something like an “Islamic NATO,” not perfect but powerful, with Pakistan supplying the nuclear stuff.

For Pakistan, selling this protection has risks. Has it put its nuclear secret up for sale? In a way, yes—not for gold, but to stay afloat. The deal makes the bomb less of a Pakistan-only thing, turning it into something shared, which loses the surprise factor that kept enemies guessing.

Dangers grow: America might punish with rules against spreading weapons. India will get cautious, testing more Brahmos and teaming closer with its friends to counter this new group. Iran might rush its own bomb, starting a Sunni-Shia face-off. China, Pakistan’s best buddy, likes it quietly and sends more road projects; Russia looks to sell its weapons.

For the whole Middle East, this changes the game. Countries there used to rely on U.S. ships for safety, but now they’re looking elsewhere. It’s because of things like the mess in Afghanistan and new U.S. taxes—Saudi and others want options.

Safety gets stronger—attackers from the sea think twice—but fights could grow bigger. If a drone hits Saudi oil fields, Pakistan jumping in might pull in Yemen’s bosses and turn small into big. On the money side, new factories for fast and farther missiles and computer defenses could make billions, but watchers warn of loose weapons moving around from Pakistan to the Gulf.

Could it all be a show, a big change showing America can’t be trusted anymore? But it’s interesting to watch, like a new game where Islamic nations take charge. For them, it’s power in numbers: Weapons and faith holding hands. For the rest, it’s a warning.

In the end, this agreement is more than paper; it’s a plan for a stronger defense for the Islamic world, where nuclear weapon is shared like tools in a toolbox.

Saudi Arabia seems more at ease with Pakistan watching its back, but questions remain. As Pakistan started selling its nuclear arsenal, everyone wonders: Peace or problems ahead? Like in the old flying days, success comes from staying alert—and there may not be a quick warning shot.

Group Captain MJ Augustine Vinod (Retd), VSM, is a former Mirage 2000 fighter pilot, air accident investigator, and co-founder of AMOS Aerospace. He writes on emerging defense technologies, AI in warfare, and India’s aviation future.

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Now, watch wankees move in to frigg up the Islamic pact, before Tel Aviv gets one in its neck