Metro53 - Islamabad: Pakistan has postponed a defense agreement worth around $1.5 billion for the supply of arms and fighter jets to Sudan after Saudi Arabia raised objections and decided not to provide financial backing for the deal, according to Pakistani security sources and a diplomatic source cited by Reuters.
Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for the past three years, turning the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The war has not only destabilized Sudan but has also drawn in competing foreign interests, raising concerns over the possible fragmentation of the strategic Red Sea nation, which is also a significant gold producer.
Reuters reported that the defense agreement had entered its final stages in January and was initially brokered with Saudi mediation, although Riyadh’s financial role was not clearly defined at that time. The deal was part of a broader set of defense arrangements being pursued by Pakistan’s military, especially after its fighter jets and weapons gained international attention following clashes with India in May last year.
Saudi Arabia, a close ally of Pakistan and a major financial supporter of its struggling economy, has previously provided loans and assistance. The two countries also signed a mutual defense agreement last year under which an attack on one would be considered an attack on both, further strengthening bilateral ties.
Sources indicated that Saudi Arabia conveyed that once it withdrew financial support, Pakistan should also shelve the agreement. Saudi officials have not issued an immediate comment, while neither the Sudanese Armed Forces nor Pakistan’s military have publicly responded to the development. The deal had not been officially confirmed earlier either.
A source further stated that some Western countries have advised Saudi Arabia to avoid involvement in proxy conflicts in Africa. Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have backed opposing sides in several conflicts, including Sudan, though both claim support for diplomatic solutions. Saudi Arabia is seen as closer to the Sudanese army, while the UAE has been accused—denied by Abu Dhabi—of providing logistical support to the Rapid Support Forces.
According to sources, the decision to withdraw financial backing followed a March meeting in Riyadh between Sudanese military leadership and Saudi officials. Meanwhile, uncertainty has also emerged over a potential $4 billion defense deal with Libya’s National Army as Saudi Arabia reassesses its regional strategy.
