Pakistan’s Defence Minister has announced a new strategic defence pact with Saudi Arabia, stating that an attack on one nation will be considered an attack on both. The most significant element of this agreement is the assertion that Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities will be available to Saudi Arabia. The minister is quoted saying, “The capabilities that we have will be available under the spectrum.” This pact provides a nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia, a signatory of the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. The development has wide ramifications for West Asia, potentially sparking a new arms race in a region where Israel is believed to possess nuclear capabilities. The agreement is seen by some as a quid pro quo, referencing historical accounts of Saudi financial support for Pakistan’s nuclear program.