Bangladesh is favourably inclined toward joining the recently concluded defence agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, ministers from the country have said, while making clear that any such decision will prioritise national interest above all else. The agreement was signed in Mecca on August 7, under which an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all three, to be jointly repelled.
Bangladesh’s newly appointed State Foreign Minister Humayun Kabir said that Bangladesh is favourably examining the possibility of joining the economic or defence agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, stating that the decision would be made keeping in mind national interests and the changing global economic and trade landscape. He said his government follows a “Bangladesh First” policy, pursuing a balanced foreign policy centred on national interests. He noted that Bangladesh would further strengthen bilateral relations with Pakistan through normal diplomatic ties, focusing on trade and people-to-people relations. He also said that Chief Adviser Tariq Rahman may visit Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the visit likely to be finalised after the summer.
Another State Foreign Minister, Shama Obaed Islam, speaking separately to the media, said that Bangladesh’s national interest and the interests of its people would determine whether the country joins the agreement. She made clear that whichever alliance they consider joining, the deciding factor would be whether it benefits Bangladesh and its people.
Two days ago, Chief Adviser Rahman’s economic and planning adviser, Professor Rashid Al Mahmood Titumir, said that the “Bangladesh First” policy marks a major shift in the country’s foreign policy, stating that it places strong emphasis on national interest, sovereignty, mutual respect, and regional peace.