Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir has said Dhaka maintains a “positive approach” toward the possibility of joining an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, marking one of the clearest signs yet of Bangladesh’s evolving regional alignment.
What Is the Mecca Pact
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement earlier this month, formally committing to treat an armed attack on any one signatory as an attack on all three. The pact builds on Pakistan’s earlier Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia signed in September 2025, and has been described by Turkish officials as purely defensive and open to other regional states.
Why Bangladesh Is Signalling Interest
Kabir said Bangladesh’s approach would be guided by its “Bangladesh First” policy and evolving global trade dynamics, while confirming that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Riyadh, at the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince, is likely to be finalised soon. The remarks come alongside reporting that Dhaka is separately weighing closer engagement with the three-nation bloc even as questions remain over what a formal role would actually involve.
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The India Angle
The signal lands amid friction between Dhaka and New Delhi, after Bangladesh’s foreign ministry criticised India for allowing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to appear virtually at a New Delhi event, calling it an affront to Bangladesh’s sovereignty. India’s Ministry of External Affairs, when asked directly about Bangladesh’s interest in the Mecca pact, gave a guarded response, saying it continues to “closely follow developments” in West Asia without further comment.
What It Means Going Forward
Analysts note the pact is unlikely to extend Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent to new partners, and its practical value lies more in diplomatic weight and potential mediation roles than hard military commitment. For Bangladesh, even symbolic proximity to Riyadh, Islamabad, and Ankara marks a notable shift in its traditional foreign policy balance, one that will be watched closely in both Delhi and the wider region as Rahman’s Riyadh visit takes shape.
Summary: Bangladesh has expressed a “positive approach” toward joining the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, according to a top aide of interim leader Tarique Rahman. The signal comes as Dhaka’s foreign policy visibly drifts toward the Gulf and Ankara, even as tensions with India simmer over a separate diplomatic dispute.
