Shifting power balance in the Middle East as Pakistan sends forces to Saudi | The Jerusalem Post

Summary

Pakistan is set to deploy warplanes and troops to Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters yesterday. This would mark a major milestone in Pakistan’s strategic ties with Saudi Arabia. The countries are allies and have supported each other, but a deployment of this magnitude would mark a major shift and could change the balance of power in the region. The reported deployment comes as Pakistan continues to play a key role in US-Iran mediation. Reuters noted that the deployment includes “8,000 troops, JF-17 jets, drones, HQ-9 air defense system,” and that Pakistan will operate the military platforms. “Pakistan previously sent jets after Iranian strikes on Saudi energy sites,” according to Reuters. The report goes on to say that Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, “a squadron of fighter jets and an air defense system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defense pact, ramping up military cooperation with Riyadh even as Islamabad serves as the main mediator in the Iran war.” Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain one of the warmest strategic relationships in the Islamic world, going back decades. They have been close friends since the Cold War, and both have also been close partners of the United States. Pakistan and the Saudis have trained together in the past. In 2024, Arab News in Riyadh noted that, according to the Pakistani military, “the Royal Saudi Land Forces and the Pakistan Army held a joint military exercise in the eastern city of Muzaffargarh [Pakistan] to enhance their military capabilities and exchange expertise.” The report noted that “Saudi Arabia and Pakistan enjoy strong defense ties and bilateral security cooperation. The two nations regularly engage in joint air, ground, and sea military exercises. Several cadets from the kingdom, along with counterparts from other Middle Eastern nations, visit Pakistan annually to undergo specialized military training.” Saudi Arabia placed under Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella Arab News also noted that “the Royal Saudi Land Forces and Pakistan Army personnel kicked off a joint military training exercise in the eastern city of Okara [Pakistan]. In January [2024], a joint Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defense forum met in Islamabad to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation and increasing collaborations in all domains.” Since 2019, the countries have worked together via the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council. Saudi Arabia, a wealthy country with a strong middle and upper class, has often supported Islamabad. Pakistan is a more populous country that suffers from poverty, as well as instability in some of its border regions, such as Balochistan and the tribal areas near Afghanistan. The Reuters report says that the new deployment “was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, all of whom described it as a substantial, combat-capable force intended to support Saudi Arabia’s military if the kingdom comes under further attack.” This comes as Pakistan continues to mediate with Iran and the US. It also comes as Pakistan has tried to encourage the talks with Iran to continue. For instance, it pushed back against a US initiative to escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters says that despite its report, “Pakistan’s military and foreign office and Saudi Arabia’s government media office did not respond to requests for comment on the deployment.” The current deployment comes in the wake of a defense agreement, signed last year, Reuters notes: “Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has previously implied that it places Saudi Arabia under Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella. According to the sources, Pakistan has deployed a full squadron of around 16 aircraft, mostly JF-17 fighters made jointly with China, which were sent to Saudi Arabia in early April. Two of the security officials said Pakistan had also sent two squadrons of drones.” The 8,000 troops are part of this, five sources apparently confirmed. A Chinese HQ-9 air defense system is also part of the deployment. This might make sense because Pakistan would essentially be deploying two brigades of soldiers, with the various elements that go along with them. Riyadh has plenty of air defenses it has acquired from the US over the years, such as Patriot batteries. In 2025, Arab Weekly said Riyadh had also deployed the THAAD system. As such, it doesn’t need Chinese air defenses. But Pakistan likely deploys the defenses as part of a package because of their interoperability with other Pakistani systems. The Reuters report argues that “the military and air force personnel deployed during the Iran conflict will primarily have an advisory and training role, according to two of the security officials,” who have seen “exchanges between the two countries and documents on the military assets’ deployment.” Pakistan has sent far more than a symbolic or advisory mission Saudi Arabia has been targeted by Iran in the recent conflict. On May 18, the kingdom said it was also targeted by three drones from Iraq. Many Iraqi militias back Iran, and those could have been Iraqi militia-launched drones. Reuters’s sources claim that “the scale and composition of the deployment – combat aircraft, air defenses and thousands of troops – mean that Pakistan has sent far more than a symbolic or advisory mission.” The new deployment comes amid increased tensions between the US and Israel vs Iran. It could signify that Riyadh is preparing for a possible escalation. It could also mean that these details were leaked because of the possible escalation. The details indicate that Pakistan is firmly planted in Saudi Arabia as a potential warning to Iran. A drone on May 17 targeted an area near a nuclear facility in the UAE. As such, escalation is already happening. Pakistan has some clout in Washington and has warm ties with the Trump administration. Therefore, this sort of deployment will be seen as symbolic. Considering recent reports that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has worked closely with partner countries in the region on air defenses, this will also bolster the assets within the US Central Command (CENTCOM area of operations. On the other hand, Pakistan does not have ties with Israel and has often been hostile to Israel, raising some questions about what happens next. The deployment, if confirmed, would point to a shift in the balance of power. It’s not the first time troops have been deployed to the region. Turkey sent forces to Qatar in 2017. Riyadh, the UAE, and Egypt all supported the government in Yemen in 2015 against the Houthis. Turkey has played a role in Syria and northern Iraq by sending troops, ostensibly to fight terrorism. In 2011, Saudi Arabia sent forces to back Bahrain against protests during the Arab Spring. The US has bases in Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait. In the recent conflict, the US has also sent refueling aircraft to Israel. As such, the region is now awash in various forces, substantially changing the overall posture of various militaries in the Middle East.