Pakistan warns Saudi Arabia of potential military response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea
Pakistan has warned that any Houthi threat to its maritime interests in the Red Sea could be met with the "lawful use of force." This statement follows a series of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia on Saudi oil tankers, which have been navigating the Red Sea under a Houthi-imposed naval blockade. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, confirmed that the group fired ballistic missiles at the Saudi oil tanker NCC GHAZAL for violating the navigation ban. Pakistan shares a close defense and security relationship with Saudi Arabia, including a mutual defense pact that considers an attack on one country an attack on both. However, Pakistan faces a complex diplomatic situation, as it also maintains strong ties with and serves as a mediator between Iran and the United States. Analysts suggest that while Pakistan is a key defense partner for Riyadh, Islamabad is likely to prioritize defensive engagement and intelligence sharing over offensive operations to preserve its neutral role in the Iran conflict. If the conflict escalates, Saudi Arabia may turn to Pakistan for military assistance to protect critical infrastructure and ensure freedom of navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint.