Dhaka describes relation with Riyadh as ‘strategic’ 

 
Clarifying the government's stands on joining the Saudi-led alliance, Bangladesh described its relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as a “strategic” one and said its joining aimed at tackling Houthi challenges.

“It is an alliance to tackle the activities of the Houthis. Whatever resources we have, we will extend,” Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday when asked about the background of Bangladesh joining the maritime defence alliance.

Fourteen countries, including Bangladesh, have expressed their support for a multinational maritime defence alliance headed by Saudi Arabia and welcomed the consensus reached on its foundational arrangements.

Kobir said the relationship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia will be a strategic one and will become even stronger.

"We have a very special relationship with Saudi Arabia. The relationship with Saudi Arabia will not simply be limited to pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah, nor is it just from a religious perspective," said the foreign affairs adviser, noting that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

He said any cooperation in the security area, moral and ethical support, and tackling the Houthi challenge are all part of that special relationship.

The other signatories are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.

Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries announced the creation of the maritime military coalition to safeguard freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

In a statement published on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance was established as a framework to strengthen collective maritime defence cooperation.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence on Thursday hosted a meeting of chiefs of staff and representatives of friendly countries, as well as the Delegation of the European Union to Saudi Arabia, to discuss the Kingdom's initiative to establish a multinational maritime defence alliance.