High-level military talks between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have sparked a potential shift in Middle East defense dynamics. Officials from both nations recently convened in Islamabad, laying the groundwork for deeper defense collaboration. What appears as a straightforward arms transaction is, in fact, a calculated maneuver amid evolving regional power plays.
Reports indicate Riyadh is mulling over converting a $2 billion loan extended to Pakistan into a weapons purchase, spotlighting the jointly developed JF-17 Thunder fighter jet by Pakistan and China. This arrangement offers Islamabad much-needed economic relief amid its fiscal woes, while providing Saudi Arabia with a budget-friendly alternative to pricier Western aircraft.
Analysts view this as a boon for Beijing’s defense export ambitions. China, seeking re-entry into markets where its products previously faltered, leverages Pakistan as a politically palatable intermediary. Dubbed the ‘debt-for-arms’ model in Asian media, this strategy circumvents direct sales hurdles.
European outlet EU Reporter highlights the JF-17’s chequered past. A decade ago, China aggressively marketed it to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Saudi Arabia as a versatile, low-cost fighter. Most backed out, with only Myanmar proceeding—only to ground most jets by 2023 due to persistent engine failures, avionics glitches, radar issues, and structural fatigue, casting doubts on its reliability.
Undeterred, Pakistan is pushing JF-17 deals with Libya, Bangladesh, and now Saudi Arabia. Observers see this as Islamabad positioning itself as a defense hub for Muslim-majority nations, offering a ‘neutral’ option independent of direct reliance on China or Russia. Yet, with Pakistan’s limited industrial base, China’s backstage role—in supplying full aircraft or key components—remains indispensable.
Experts label it China’s ‘backdoor strategy’ to dodge political backlash and reputational risks. For Europe, the implications are alarming: such indirect exports undermine the EU’s ability to enforce human rights safeguards and end-use restrictions on arms, eroding its global weapons governance standards and soft power.
The US faces even graver concerns. By using Pakistan as a proxy, Beijing expands its defense footprint without crossing American ‘red lines,’ diluting sanctions, diplomatic pressures, and deterrence efforts. A particular worry is Chinese technology infiltrating the air forces of US allies like Saudi Arabia indirectly, raising issues of interoperability, data security, and future alliances—especially as Washington bolsters security pacts in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East.