Does the US have a hidden angle in Saudi–Pakistan defence pact to counter India?

Over 70 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s weapons come from the United States, including F-15 fighter jets, Patriot missile systems, and advanced drones. Any Saudi military move against India would require Washington’s quiet approval, giving the US leverage in the pact.

India is a key US partner in the Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at countering China. Washington sees New Delhi as a strategic ally, making it unlikely that the US would support a Saudi stance that threatens India directly.

While US–Pakistan relations have cooled in recent years, Pakistan has historically been a major non-NATO ally. The new Saudi–Pakistan pact could provide Washington with a backchannel into Islamabad, especially as China deepens its influence there.

The US is deeply tied to Saudi oil markets. Any conflict scenario involving Saudi Arabia and India could destabilise global energy supplies. Washington would likely use its influence to prevent Riyadh from weaponising oil against India.

The US benefits massively from Saudi arms purchases, in 2022 alone, deals exceeded $3 billion. Supporting Saudi defence initiatives keeps the US defence industry profitable, but Washington must balance this without jeopardising India’s trust.

The US may quietly allow Saudi–Pakistan defence cooperation as long as it doesn’t threaten India directly. This gives Washington room to control both sides: securing arms deals with Riyadh while strengthening its strategic embrace of New Delhi.

The US does have a hidden angle, it gains by staying central to both Saudi defence and India’s strategic rise. Washington is unlikely to let the Saudi–Pakistan pact escalate against India, instead using its influence to manage the balance of power in South Asia.