Bangladesh Weighs Joining Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi Arabia's 'Islamic NATO' Pact

There are reports of Bangladesh considering joining an alliance, which is formed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Reports have already labeled the military alliance as "NATO". In Dhaka, the Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir claims that Bangladesh has an attitude towards this alliance. According to him, Bangladesh has a desire to follow the "Bangladesh First" policy of the country’s government headed by its Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Such decisions will be made according to the national interests of Bangladesh.

What Is the Mecca Defence Pact?

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement has been signed between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 7. The pact has a provision stating that any act of aggression against one partner will be considered an act of aggression against all. The provision is very similar to Article 5 of the NATO charter. The Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Asif, believes that the Mecca Defence Pact would evolve from a "club" to something which resembles an Islamic version of NATO. The Mecca Defence Pact allows these countries to cooperate in the production of weapons, technology exchange, and conducting joint military exercises. This is the time when tension is rising in the region due to Iran's behavior following the US-Israel conflict.

Why the Offer Attracts Dhaka

There has been a somewhat cold relationship between Bangladesh and India recently due to issues such as border disputes, water-sharing issues, and Sheikh Hasina living in India at the moment. Already, Turkey and Pakistan are known to deploy their drones, frigates, fighter aircraft, and naval ships to Dhaka. There could be increased military assistance for Dhaka should relations improve. Besides, Saudi Arabia remains Dhaka's destination for remittances. The country had remitted US$5.28 billion in 11 months of its last fiscal year to Dhaka. This agreement may also assist in keeping the energy shipments on the Red Sea secure. Bangladesh needs these shipments not only for imports but also for exporting garments to Europe. However, Dhaka is wary about being close to Pakistan due to secularism in the country, as they remind them of the year 1971. Dhaka will need to be very cautious while maintaining relations with India and China before making a decision.

-Ishita Ranjan