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Bangladesh considers joining Mecca Pact, testing foreign ties: Reuters
Published : Tuesday, 25 August, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Observer Online Report
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Bangladesh is open to considering joining the Mecca pact - a mutual defense agreement signed earlier this month by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan - State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir announced.
Analysts observe that such a step could significantly impact the nation's foreign relations, particularly with neighboring India.
Relationships between Dhaka and New Delhi remain delicate as Bangladesh accuses Indian border forces of push-ins while actively pursuing the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who took refuge in India following her ouster in August 2024.
"If there is a security arrangement among Islamic nations in the Middle East, it is not unusual for us to consider participating. It is being viewed positively," State Minister Humayun Kabir informed reporters on Monday.
He added, "They are inviting the leadership of Bangladesh, particularly Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, to come and participate."
A foreign ministry source, speaking anonymously to Reuters, confirmed that Saudi Arabia extended an invitation to Dhaka to join the pact.
The agreement - signed in the holy city of Mecca on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan - is modeled on NATO's collective-defense principle. Under the pact, an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. While Bangladesh is a constitutionally secular republic, over 90 per cent of its population is Sunni Muslim, sharing demographic parallels with the founding members.
Analysts highlight that entering a formal military alliance would challenge Bangladesh's traditional foreign policy approach of maintaining neutrality to attract foreign investment, expand ready-made garment exports, and preserve economic relations with global powers.
Geopolitical analyst Kollol Kibria noted that formal membership in a military bloc could complicate Dhaka's relations not only with India, but also with key global partners including the United States, China, Russia, Japan, and Iran. "These relationships would not automatically break, but once Bangladesh joins a military bloc, the question of which side Bangladesh is on becomes much harder to avoid," Kibria explained.
Furthermore, political analysts note that New Delhi is unlikely to view Bangladesh's entry into a security bloc that includes Pakistan favorably. However, Asif Shahan, a development studies professor at Dhaka University, emphasized that economic and strategic decisions must be carefully weighed by Dhaka. "If Bangladesh joins this alliance, several countries, including India, will not be pleased," Shahan stated, adding, "However, that should not be the basis of Bangladesh's decision."
-SA
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