Maritime strategic depth and regional balance: Evaluating Pakistan–Saudi naval synergy in an Indo-Pak conflict scenario

Abstract

In Pakistan’s traditional security milieu, the term of strategic depth has been understood in land-centric concept. This paper makes an endeavor of translating this concept into the maritime domain using Pakistan’s enhanced naval collaboration with Saudi Arabia. Keeping in view, growing naval capabilities of India and Pakistan’s vulnerability owing to its concentrated and limited coastal infrastructure, the study evaluates prospects of the Saudi intelligence-sharing arrangements, basing facilities, logistical and maintenance support for Pakistan. The paper argues that maritime strategic depth could enhance dispersal of forces, operational endurance, and survivability of Pakistan Navy, in the Indo-Pak high-intensity conflict. While highlighting its likely impacts on the developing maritime balance of power, in the Northern Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf especially on the face of ongoing crisis, the paper further assesses regional consequences, legal limitations, and political sensitivities of such cooperation. Using qualitative analysis of openly available data on defense, historical precedents, policy documents, and alliance theories, the paper asserts that though conceptually, maritime strategic depth is conceivable, yet its practical application may be limited by Saudi's diplomatic calculus, Gulf neutrality rules, and political alliances.