Bangladesh Eyes Saudi-Pak-Turkiye Defence Pact Under ‘Bangladesh First’

Bangladesh is open to joining the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan-Turkiye defence pact, with two junior foreign ministers saying any decision will be guided by national interests, as Dhaka signals growing interest in the newly formed security framework.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on August 7. The pact establishes a collective deterrence framework and stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three.

Newly appointed State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kobir said Bangladesh maintains a positive approach towards potentially joining an economic or defence framework involving the three countries.

“ Bangladesh maintains a positive approach towards the possibility of joining an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye, taking into account its own interests and the changing dynamics of the global economy and trade, ” Kobir told Bangladesh’s state-run BSS.

Kobir said the government was pursuing a “Bangladesh First” policy and a balanced foreign policy with national interests at its core, which could lead Dhaka to join the defence pact. He also said Bangladesh would strengthen ties with Pakistan through normal diplomatic engagement, focusing on trade and people-to-people connectivity.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam separately said Bangladesh’s national interest and the interests of its people would determine its position.

“ Whether we join any pact or any multilateral body will be decided primarily on whether Bangladesh's interests and the interests of the Bangladeshi people are protected, ” she said.

Recent reporting has described Bangladesh as increasingly keen on joining the Makkah pact, although Dhaka has not formally announced its membership.

The development comes as Turkiye has signalled that the three-member framework could expand. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed hope that additional countries will join, while Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has also discussed expanding the arrangement.

The pact is being closely watched in India because of Pakistan’s participation and its potential expansion. New Delhi has said it is examining the agreement’s implications for national security and regional stability.

Meanwhile, Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir described the “Bangladesh First” policy as a “paradigm shift”, placing national interest, sovereignty, mutual respect and regional harmony at the centre of Dhaka’s foreign policy.

“ The Bangladesh First policy means putting Bangladesh’s interests first, but Bangladesh for all, ” Titumir said.

Kobir also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to visit Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the schedule likely to be finalised after the summer.