Sharif will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral ties and regional security as Pakistan backs Saudi-led efforts to secure Red Sea shipping lanes amid escalating tensions across West Asia.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a three-day official visit, with regional security expected to dominate discussions as tensions continue to escalate across West Asia.
Sharif was welcomed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, along with senior Saudi officials.
The high-level delegation also includes Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who recently concluded a visit to Jordan, is also expected to join the delegation in Saudi Arabia.
The visit comes amid a rapidly evolving security situation in West Asia, with conflict expanding across multiple theatres, including the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The deteriorating regional environment has prompted Gulf countries to step up security coordination. Sharif had last visited Saudi Arabia in April, when he held discussions with the Kingdom’s leadership on bilateral and regional issues.
Pakistan last week said it is “doing its utmost” to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 18.
“During the visit, the prime minister will meet Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. Discussions would focus on consolidating the Pakistan-Saudi bilateral relationship and exchange views on areas of regional and international developments of mutual interests,” the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
The visit, it said, reflected Pakistan’s long-standing partnership with Saudi Arabia, rooted in decades of mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood.
“Although taking place amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, the visit carries significance beyond the immediate crisis and short-term considerations. It will further strengthen bilateral relations, deepen strategic cooperation, enhance coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest and also reinforce multilateral cooperation,” the FO said.
Last week, Saudi Arabia proposed a Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition (MMDC) to safeguard commercial shipping lanes and critical energy supply routes through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait after Saudi ships came under attack from Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthis.
Fourteen countries, including Pakistan, expressed support for the initiative, underscoring growing concerns over the security of one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors, according to reports.
Islamabad simultaneously reiterated its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and stressed the importance of ensuring the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb.
The two countries have also strengthened defence cooperation in recent years. A Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed last year became operational this year, paving the way for closer military collaboration. Under the arrangement, Pakistan has deployed military personnel and aircraft to Saudi Arabia for joint training exercises, defence cooperation and support for the Kingdom’s security requirements.
Saudi Arabia also remains one of Pakistan’s key economic partners. According to a provisional report by Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Riyadh has provided a fresh USD 3 billion deposit loan while extending an existing USD 5 billion financial facility for another three years during the 2025-26 period, helping Islamabad bolster its foreign exchange reserves and economic stability.
With inputs from agencies
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