Bangladesh has indicated that it could positively consider joining the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey if the three existing members extend an invitation. Dhaka has not received any formal invitation so far, but senior officials have signalled that the country is open to examining the possibility. The development comes as Bangladesh reviews its foreign policy and security partnerships amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and growing tensions in several parts of the world.

Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said joining the pact would not prevent Dhaka from maintaining relations and cooperation with other countries. He described the agreement as presenting new opportunities and said Bangladesh needed to approach foreign policy and security cooperation in an integrated and flexible manner. Kobir made the remarks after a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Zafer bin Abiyah, as Dhaka continues to assess its options for strengthening international partnerships.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman had earlier told Parliament that Bangladesh would positively consider joining the agreement if an invitation were extended. He characterised the pact and the possibility of Bangladesh becoming part of it as an internal matter involving Muslim countries, while stressing that no decision had yet been taken. Bangladesh's position indicates that Dhaka is keeping the possibility open without formally committing to membership at this stage.

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The remarks come as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey prepare for their first meeting under the defence agreement. The meeting is expected to bring together senior foreign and defence officials from all three countries, including Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Their counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Turkey are also expected to participate as the three countries begin discussions on implementing their new security arrangement.

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on August 7. One of its key provisions states that an armed attack against any one of the three members would be treated as an attack against all, creating a collective defence mechanism comparable in principle to NATO's Article 5. The agreement also envisages closer cooperation in areas including defence production, technology transfer and joint military exercises, giving the pact a broader security and defence dimension.

The agreement has emerged amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including conflicts and security concerns in West Asia and growing instability in the region surrounding Pakistan. For Bangladesh, any decision to participate would involve assessing both the potential security and diplomatic advantages and its existing relationships with other countries. Dhaka's latest statements therefore suggest that it is keeping its options open while seeking to maintain a balanced foreign policy. Any formal move towards joining the pact would depend on an invitation from its existing members and further consideration by the Bangladeshi government.

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