3 weeks ago
Pakistan inks defence pact with Somalia amid Houthi threat
Pakistan and Somalia are two countries that have decided to become defence friends.
They signed a special agreement to help each other with military training and safety.
The defence leaders of both countries met in Pakistan to make this deal official.
This is happening because ships in the sea near Somalia and Saudi Arabia have been attacked.
A group called the Houthis has been firing missiles at ships, including a Saudi oil tanker.
Many countries are worried about their trade ships, so 14 countries, led by Saudi Arabia, formed an alliance to protect the sea route.
Pakistan wants to join these efforts and become known as a strong military country.
The agreement also lets the two countries work together to fight dangerous groups like Al-Shabaab.
It is not yet clear if Somalia will buy fighter jets, called JF-17, from Pakistan.
No date has been set for the agreement's next steps.
Pakistan and Somalia signed a defence cooperation agreement (MoU) during Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Fiqi's visit to Pakistan.
The agreement covers security cooperation, military capability development, military knowledge and training exchange, and counter-terrorism collaboration.
Neither side clarified whether military purchases are part of the deal; reports earlier suggested Somalia was in talks to buy up to 24 JF-17 fighter jets worth around $900 million.
The pact follows both countries joining a Saudi Arabia-led 14-nation maritime defence alliance to secure navigation around the Bab al-Mandab strait, which handles nearly 7% of global crude oil trade.
It comes as Houthis intensify attacks on vessels, including a ballistic missile strike on a Saudi oil tanker and the sinking of an Indian-flagged commercial vessel in the Red Sea.
- Who
- Pakistan and Somalia, represented by Defence Ministers Khawaja Asif and Ahmed Fiqi; Pakistani army and navy chiefs were also involved.
- What
- Signed a defence cooperation agreement (MoU) covering security cooperation, military capability development, knowledge and training exchange, and counter-terrorism.
- Where
- Pakistan, with the agreement aimed at the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait region near Somalia.
- When
- During Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Fiqi's visit to Pakistan (recent, within the last two weeks); no implementation timeline was specified.
- Why
- To strengthen security cooperation amid Houthi maritime threats and to expand Pakistan's defence and diplomatic footprint in Africa and West Asia.
Key facts
- Agreement
- Defence cooperation agreement (Memorandum of Understanding)
- Signatories
- Pakistan (Khawaja Asif) and Somalia (Ahmed Fiqi)
- Scope
- Security cooperation, military capability development, knowledge/training exchange, counter-terrorism
- Reported jet deal (unconfirmed)
- Up to 24 JF-17 fighter jets, worth around $900 million
- Implementation timeline
- Not specified
- Maritime alliance
- Saudi Arabia-led group of 14 countries securing navigation around Bab al-Mandab
- Bab al-Mandab crude oil trade
- Nearly 7% of global crude oil trade
- Recent Houthi attacks
- Ballistic missile strike on a Saudi oil tanker; Indian-flagged commercial vessel sank in the Red Sea











