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After the Second World War, one of the most important agreements was the formation of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) on 4 April 1949. It included a famous clause that says: “An armed attack against one or more of them shall be considered an attack against them all.” 1 This agreement began with 12 countries including the USA, UK, Canada, and France. Today, NATO has 32 members. The real power of this alliance was seen after the 9/11 attacks, when NATO stood with the USA. NATO sent AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) surveillance planes to protect American airspace. It also supported the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and took control of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), which stayed for more than 10 years. This shows how much support a country can get through such a defense agreement.
Is the SMDA a ray of hope?
In 2025, a similar agreement was signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) could be a new hope for the Muslim world. This agreement shows that Muslim countries can stand together, instead of depending on Western powers. It may lead to stronger unity and cooperation among Muslim nations, something we have needed for a long time.
What will be the future opportunities if more countries take part?
This agreement makes us think — what if more important Muslim countries like Turkey, Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Morocco also joined? Together, we could have a military force of over 2 million soldiers, more than 6,000 aircraft, and over 1,000 naval assets. In this way, one country’s weakness can be covered by another’s strength. For example, Turkey has a strong navy, while Pakistan has good ground forces. Qatar and the UAE can give financial help. Egypt has large manpower. These countries can support each other in defense and beyond. And now, after Israel’s attack on Qatar — even though Qatar is a close ally of the USA — it is clear that Western protection is not always guaranteed. More Muslim countries may now think seriously about joining such an alliance.
What should be our next step?
The Holy Qur’an gives clear advice: “And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and your strength would depart. And be patient...”2 Also, Allah says: “The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your brothers.”3 These verses remind us that unity brings strength. As Muslims, we must put aside our differences and work together. One of the biggest problems in the Muslim world is sectarianism — fighting between different groups. We must end this if we want to move forward. If we stand united, the world will respect us more. If we keep fighting each other, we will stay weak and divided.
In the end, the SMDA may be more than just an agreement between two countries. It could be the first step toward a larger Muslim defense pact — something like a “Muslim NATO.” But for this to happen, we need unity, trust, and real cooperation between our countries. We must stop building walls between us and start building bridges.
