Bangladesh has expressed a tentative willingness to consider joining the Mecca Pact, a newly formed mutual defense agreement currently comprising Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. The pact, established earlier this month, commits its members to collective retaliation in the event of external threats against any one of them.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman addressed the possibility during a parliamentary session in Dhaka, indicating a positive view of the initiative but noting that no formal steps toward membership have been taken. He emphasized that Bangladesh's participation would depend on the intentions of the existing members. "The matter of joining or participating in this pact has not arisen yet," Rahman said. He framed the agreement as "a system of self-defence for the global Muslim society" and characterized it as an internal matter for the Muslim community, underscoring that it should not raise concerns beyond that circle.

The Mecca Pact was initially formed by Turkey—a NATO member—alongside Saudi Arabia, a key oil producer and regional power, and Pakistan, which possesses nuclear capabilities. Shortly after its creation, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan suggested that Egypt might soon join the alliance, potentially broadening the bloc’s influence.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi reiterated that the pact remains open to countries with shared security interests. Speaking from Islamabad, Andrabi said any formal requests for accession would be considered through consultations involving Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad, highlighting the collective decision-making approach of the pact’s members.

By establishing this security framework, the three founding parties aim to strengthen mutual defense mechanisms amid a complex geopolitical landscape in the Muslim world. Bangladesh’s cautious approach reflects its interest in regional security cooperation while awaiting further clarity on the pact’s strategic direction and membership criteria.