Bangladesh is open to joining the trilateral defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Tรผrkiye, two of country’s junior ministers have said. The remarks are significant as India is likely to closely monitor the development amid concerns over the emergence of an Islamic NATO-like alliance in the region.
Speaking to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) this week, newly appointed state minister for foreign affairs Humayun Kobir has said that the government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is pursuing a “Bangladesh First” policy that focuses a lot on its national interests.
He said Rahman could also meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh soon, indicating that Dhaka is interested in joining the pact.
“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,” he said, as cited by news agency PTI.
Shama Obaed Islam, who is also a state minister for foreign affairs, has backed Kobir’s comments and said the country’s national interests would determine if Bangladesh goes on to join the trilateral pact.
“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, while interacting with the media on Friday.
The Saudi-Pak-Turkiye defence pact
The trilateral pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Tรผrkiye, also known as the ‘Mecca Joint Defence Agreement’, was signed in Makkah on August 7. The agreement is similar to the one like the NATO under which an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all the members.
Interestingly, Egypt has also shown interest in joining the pact. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has welcomed the agreement and said it highlights how countries are finally progressing to ‘defend themselves’ in a ‘meaningful way’.
Regional observers and analysts have suggested that the pact is aimed at Iran and to counter its influence in the Middle East. However, all three members have stated that the pact is not against any nation, but only to safeguard their sovereignty, even as Iran stated that the agreement would not guarantee protection to the Saudis.ย ย
“The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” a joint statement said. “It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defense cooperation among the three States.”
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