Bangladesh must assess risks before joining Mecca Defence Alliance: Experts

Bangladesh should assess the proposed Mecca Defence Alliance's structure, obligations and impact on strategic autonomy and ties with India, the US and China before joining, experts said. The alliance could offer defence and economic opportunities, but Dhaka must examine its compatibility with foreign policy and international obligations, they said. 

The observations were presented at a roundtable titled "Significance of Mecca Defence Alliance & Options for Bangladesh", organised by the Centre for Strategic and Development Studies (CSDS) and chaired by former ambassador Maj Gen (retd)  AMSA Ameen. 

Professor Shahab Enam Khan of Jahangirnagar University said Bangladesh should consider the Myanmar situation, including Pakistan's potential role in Rohingya repatriation and its growing defence ties with Myanmar.

"Bangladesh needs a regional partner to keep the OIC channel active. Pakistan could be an important partner in this regard," he said.

China's role in the Bangladesh-Myanmar context also requires Dhaka to balance ties with Washington and Beijing, Shahab said. Changing relations among Saudi Arabia, the Gulf countries, Iran and Türkiye could create diplomatic challenges, while ties with Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states and Qatar remain important, particularly because Bangladesh depends heavily on Qatar for natural gas imports.

He also stressed defence modernisation and diversification, saying these had become more important after 2024. Myanmar's move to establish a nuclear power plant was another concern, he added.

Former ambassador Mahbub Uz Zaman said the pact had so far developed as a joint defence arrangement among three countries, with a key provision treating an armed attack on one member as an attack on all three.

"If Bangladesh joins the agreement, it needs to know under what circumstances it could be required to use force and what kind of international obligations this could create," he said.

Mahbub said membership could affect Bangladesh's "strategic autonomy" and balanced ties with India, the US and China. The pact should also be assessed against Article 25 of the Bangladesh Constitution and relevant principles of the UN Charter, he said.

Professor Shahiduzzaman, a retired international relations professor at Dhaka University, said uncertainty remained over the pact's future structure and sustainability. 

Bangladesh should wait for a formal proposal, he said, adding that expansion was unlikely to make significant progress in the next few months. Its future would also depend on relations among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye and Iran.

Lt Gen (retd) Aminul Karim said the pact should not be compared directly with Nato because its organisational structure remains unclear. However, Türkiye's military technology, Pakistan's military capabilities and Saudi Arabia's financial resources could benefit Bangladesh's defence and economy.

He called for stronger defence capabilities and credible deterrence, particularly a stronger air force and air defence system, while maintaining good relations with India. Greater defence capability would strengthen Bangladesh's position in talks with India based on sovereign equality, he said. 

Former Pakistani senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, joining virtually, called the alliance a "significant and historic initiative" that could offer Muslim countries a new strategic alternative. 

Bangladesh should remain focused on South Asia, he said, while stronger Bangladesh-Pakistan ties and cooperation among Bangladesh, Pakistan and China could help create regional balance.