Bangladesh is exploring the potential of becoming a member of the newly signed navy settlement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which has been termed as an “Islamic NATO”.
Formally known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, the navy pact was signed by the three international locations on August 7. Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif mentioned on the time that he needed the pact to expand and become something like “an Islamic NATO”, and never stay an “unique membership”, He had known as on the Islamic nations to bury their variations and are available collectively.
The pact, in response to media stories, has drawn consideration in Dhaka as Bangladesh seems to be to strengthen its defence capabilities and safe key financial pursuits.
Officers in Dhaka preserve that their willingness to guage the Mecca pact is guided strictly by nationwide curiosity and a want to diversify geopolitical ties amid regional uncertainty and home political transition.
What’s ‘Islamic NATO’?
The Mecca Joint Defence Settlement was signed in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 7.
The settlement features a collective defence provision underneath which an armed attack on one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all. That is akin to Article 5 of the NATO constitution, therefore the title “Islamic NATO”.
The pact additionally offers for better cooperation in defence manufacturing, expertise switch and joint navy workouts.
Pakistan’s deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who additionally oversees the international ministry, described the settlement as “purely defensive” and mentioned it stays open to different international locations within the area.
The pact got here amid heightened regional tensions and issues over Iran’s navy posture, which has affected Saudi Arabia following the US-Israel conflict on Tehran.
Curiosity from Bangladesh
Bangladesh has traditionally been nearer to India whereas additionally making an attempt to stability its relations with China. Nonetheless, latest strains with New Delhi over points together with borders and water-sharing have prompted Dhaka to think about broader safety partnerships. One other pressure has been the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been dwelling in India since her ouster in August 2024 attributable to a student-led rebellion.
Her Awami League, seen as nearer to India, stays banned in Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Social gathering (BNP) got here to energy earlier this yr with Tarique Rahman changing into the Prime Minister. Since coming to energy, Rahman has advocated for a “Bangladesh First” coverage and has had considerably chilly ties with India. Dhaka’s curiosity within the so-called Islamic NATO stems from there.
Bangladesh’s Overseas Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir mentioned in mid-August that Dhaka had a “optimistic method” in the direction of a attainable financial or defence framework involving the three international locations, guided by its “Bangladesh First” coverage, in response to a Reuters report.
An in depth aide to Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman additionally instructed Bangladesh Sangbad Sanstha that Bangladesh was eager on becoming a member of a formation just like the Mecca Pact.
Why becoming a member of the Mecca Pact could make sense to Dhaka?
For Bangladesh, nearer ties with Saudi Arabia might assist defend an important supply of remittances coming into the nation. Saudi Arabia was Bangladesh’s largest remittance supply within the 2025-26 monetary yr, contributing about $5.28 billion within the first 11 months. It’s roughly 16 per cent of complete inflows, an enormous chunk for the nation. Saudi funding potential may also be profitable.
Turkey and Pakistan are already necessary suppliers of navy gear to Bangladesh. Turkey offers drones, frigates and armoured autos, whereas Pakistan provides fighter jets such because the JF-17 Thunder and naval vessels.
Nearer cooperation underneath the pact might open alternatives for expertise switch, joint manufacturing, coaching and entry to defence gear.
Vitality safety is one other issue for Dhaka, which can drive it in the direction of the pact. Bangladesh relies upon closely on imports for its power wants, counting on transport routes by means of the Pink Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait for provides from West Asia.
The pact may very well be seen as serving to to guard oil and LNG shipments, supporting extra secure power costs, and safeguarding transport routes utilized by Bangladesh’s garment exports to Europe.
What are the challenges?
Stepping into any pact with Pakistan as a proponent may very well be a problem for the Bangladesh authorities, as it’ll face backlash from the secular forces within the nation. Recollections of the 1971 conflict of independence with Pakistan are nonetheless contemporary within the minds of a bit of the society.
Dhaka would additionally need to stability its relations with India and China.
The precise operational mechanisms and membership standards of the Mecca Settlement additionally stay unclear.
As of now, Bangladesh has not formally introduced a choice to affix. Nonetheless, its curiosity indicators a attainable shift in Dhaka’s international coverage, with safety, remittances, power and funding all forming a part of the calculation.
(With Reuters inputs)
