Bangladesh Considers Joining Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

The Government of Bangladesh is considering joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a mutual defense pact signed on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. The agreement operates on a collective-defense principle, stipulating that an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and State Minister Humaiun Kobir have both indicated a positive approach toward the framework, stating that any decision will be guided by a "Bangladesh First" policy prioritizing national interests.

This strategic shift follows the August 2024 ouster of Sheikh Hasina and is marked by increasing Turkish military exports and the resumption of Pakistani military training for Bangladeshi personnel. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reportedly been invited to participate in the pact and is expected to visit Saudi Arabia soon. However, internal government consistency remains unclear, as Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam recently claimed he was unaware of any such invitation.

India has responded with muted diplomacy but views the development with concern, fearing a new security architecture on its eastern border near the vulnerable Chicken's Neck corridor. Reports indicate Prime Minister Narendra Modi has coordinated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the rise of this Sunni-identity bloc. Domestically, some reports warn that the pact could compromise Bangladesh's neutrality and draw it into Middle Eastern conflicts, potentially threatening energy security and shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.