Bangladesh expresses interest in joining Makkah Joint Defence Agreement: report

Bangladesh has expressed its interest in participating in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a trilateral military framework recently formed between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye, Turkish state media Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday.

Speaking on the development, newly appointed State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir confirmed that Dhaka is viewing the security pact positively, though deliberations remain ongoing and no formal policy decision has been finalized.

Kabir, who took office last week after previously serving as an adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, noted that partners in the region and across the Muslim world are actively engaging with Bangladesh’s leadership to explore deeper defence and economic cooperation.

“We have expressed our interest in the Mecca Defense pact … Bangladesh is now a country of recognition. The partners in West Asia (Middle East), the partners in the Muslim world around the globe are now inviting the leadership of Bangladesh, especially the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, to be with them in many places.

“If there is one (agreement) in West Asia, if there is a security agreement between Islamic countries, then it is not unusual to go there. Let’s see. The matter is being viewed positively,” said Kabir on Monday.

He stated that stakeholders from the Middle East and the larger Muslim world are encouraging Bangladesh’s leadership to take part in various projects, and that Bangladesh is now trying to strengthen ties and collaboration with many foreign partners.

“This is being viewed positively. However, the matter remains at the discussion stage,” the official stated.

What’s Makkah Joint Defence Agreement?

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye to strengthen collective security and promote peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond. The agreement stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against them all. This collective defense clause is similar to NATO’s Article 5.

The agreement, signed on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression. It also provides for enhanced defense cooperation across all areas among the three nations.

The pact is purely defensive in nature and is not targeted against any specific country, as stated by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in a statement. It is open to other regional countries willing to uphold its fundamental principles. The agreement builds on the historical ties, bonds of brotherhood, and Islamic solidarity, as well as shared strategic interests and longstanding defense cooperation among the three countries.