Pakistan’s Military Leadership and Defense Diplomacy: Managing Strategic Partnership with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

The emerging role of Pakistan’s defense diplomacy has catalyzed change in the country, with Pakistan receiving international commendation for its growing effectiveness, signaling positive progress in global perceptions of its military institutions. Viewed through the lens of a partnership between soft and hard power, defense diplomacy is not confined solely to military affairs but extends its scope to encompass both competition and cooperation among states. Pakistan’s relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are largely dependent on how Pakistan carries out defense diplomacy to manage its alliance, as Pakistan’s relations with these states are more defense-oriented. The Pakistan military has changed its course of action and strategic outlook of policies to play a more decisive role in regional and international diplomatic collaboration and security. Therefore, the most suitable approach is to maintain relations with both countries on a strictly bilateral track, setting aside emotional considerations and focusing instead on the state’s foreign policy objectives, while effectively managing external factors that may impact these relationships. In this context, the application of defense diplomacy by the Pakistan military is particularly apt, enabling the use of soft power strategies to de-escalate tensions.