Bangladesh is signaling that it may be ready to take a closer look at a new regional defense partnership, as Dhaka considers the possibility of joining the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh remains positive about participating in an economic or defense framework involving the three countries, while stressing that any decision would be guided by the country’s national interests and changing global economic and trade dynamics.
The comments come after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7 amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three signatories would be treated as an attack against all.
The agreement was reached against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions following the Middle East.on Iran, which began Feb. 28 and has drawn in several Gulf states while disrupting maritime traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, or BSS, Kobir said Bangladesh was pursuing a balanced foreign policy under its “Bangladesh First” policy, with national interests at the center of its diplomatic approach.
Read More: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye sign Makkah Joint Defence Pact
He said Bangladesh was also strengthening its working bilateral relationship with Pakistan as part of normal diplomatic engagement, with a focus on expanding trade and improving people-to-people connectivity.
Makkah defense agreement
The joint defense agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defense, attended by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The pact provides for enhanced defense cooperation among the three signatories and reflects their commitment to strengthening collective security while promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.
A day after the agreement was signed, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the pact was technically similar to NATO’s Article 5 mutual-defense arrangement but was not directed against Iran or any other country.
Fidan said the agreement represented a general pledge among the three allies to support one another’s security. He added that President Erdoğan wanted the framework to expand, identifying Egypt as a potential candidate among other countries.
On Aug. 9, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sen. Ishaq Dar said the Makkah agreement remained open to countries willing to uphold its core principles.
Dar described the accord as defensive in nature and said it neither abrogated nor replaced any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
He said the framework was open to countries committed to cooperation, mutual respect and the peaceful resolution of differences.
Dar said the agreement was consistent with the fundamental pillars of Pakistan’s foreign policy and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to working with regional partners to advance peaceful conflict resolution and build a more secure and prosperous future.
