The Intelligence from The Economist

On warhead be it: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

41 snips
Sep 24, 2025
Shashank Joshi, Defence editor at The Economist, sheds light on the newly revealed military alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, delving into its nuclear implications. Don Wineland, China business expert, discusses how Chinese brands navigate naming challenges abroad to avoid awkward mishaps. The conversation also touches on how authoritarian regimes handle satire, revealing the role of political jokes as a form of dissent and their impact on public sentiment. Expect insights into geopolitics and branding strategies that are both fascinating and relevant.
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INSIGHT

Nuclear Partnership Emerges Publicly

  • Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long had covert defence ties that now appear to be formalising publicly.
  • If Pakistan's nuclear deterrent is included, Saudi Arabia may be sheltered under Islamabad's umbrella for the first time.
ANECDOTE

1990s Oil For Nuclear Support

  • Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan financially in the 1990s, helping it respond to India's nuclear tests.
  • Prince Sultan even visited Pakistan's nuclear sites and Western intelligence long suspected quid-pro-quo arrangements.
INSIGHT

Credibility Requires Concrete Steps

  • Declaring a nuclear umbrella is easier said than done and needs visible assurance measures to be credible.
  • Pakistan lacks precedent for extended deterrence and would need deployments, consultations, and sufficient warheads to reassure allies.
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