title:Bangladesh Poised to Join Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi Defence Alliance
ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh media reports have emerged over Bangladesh’spotential participation in an emerging defence arrangement involvingPakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, following the February 2026 generalelections in Dhaka. This development stems from the Strategic MutualDefence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September2025, which includes a collective defence clause treating aggressionagainst one as an attack on all. Recent high-level military engagementsbetween Islamabad and Dhaka, combined with Bangladesh’s ongoing defencemodernisation under Forces Goal 2030, have amplified discussions aboutDhaka’s possible integration into this framework, potentially reshapingSouth Asian and broader Muslim-world security dynamics.
The foundation of this speculated expansion lies in the bilateral SMDAformalised on 17 September 2025 in Riyadh between Saudi Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The pactbuilds on decades of military cooperation, including Pakistani training ofSaudi forces and financial support from Riyadh to Islamabad. Analystsdescribe it as a response to regional volatilities, including Gulf securityconcerns and uncertainties in traditional alliances, though it stops shortof a full NATO-style institutionalised structure.
Turkey’s advanced negotiations to join the Pakistan-Saudi pact, reported inearly January 2026, have accelerated interest in broader membership.Turkish officials have confirmed ongoing talks, highlighting overlappingstrategic interests across the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. Theprospective trilateral arrangement would combine Saudi financial resources,Pakistan’s nuclear capability and manpower, and Turkey’s advanced defenceindustry and NATO experience, prompting media references to an “IslamicNATO” despite no formal unified command yet existing.
Bangladesh’s potential role gains traction amid its post-2024 politicaltransition and upcoming elections, with reports suggesting the newgovernment could pursue deeper ties with these partners. Enhanced militarycontacts between Dhaka and Islamabad, including joint exercises like IndusShield and discussions on intelligence sharing, counterterrorism andequipment procurement, provide a backdrop. Pakistan has publiclyacknowledged advanced talks with Bangladesh on arms supplies, includingJF-17 fighter jets, drones and armoured vehicles, signaling intent tostrengthen bilateral defence links.
Defence experts note that Bangladesh’s inclusion would align with itsstrategic need to diversify partnerships beyond traditional suppliers whilemodernising its forces. The country’s interest in Turkish defence products,such as drones and warships, and Saudi economic ties further supportsspeculation. However, any formal accession would require consensus amongexisting members and careful navigation of regional sensitivities,particularly given historical complexities in South Asia.
The emerging framework reflects shifting geopolitical realities, whereMuslim-majority nations seek enhanced collective security amid globaluncertainties. Pakistan’s Defence Minister has indicated that expansion ofthe pact, including new members, would need mutual agreement between Riyadhand Islamabad, underscoring a cautious approach. While no bindingmultilateral treaty has been signed beyond the bilateral SMDA, draftdiscussions for trilateral cooperation have been reported, with othercountries like Indonesia and Iraq also expressing interest.
Regional implications could be significant, potentially bolsteringdeterrence against perceived threats and fostering joint training,technology transfer and economic integration in defence sectors. ForBangladesh, participation might offer access to advanced weaponry, trainingexpertise and strategic depth, aiding its sovereignty and modernisationgoals. Critics, however, caution that such alignments could complicaterelations with other powers and require balancing competing interests.
As discussions evolve, the focus remains on whether post-electionBangladesh formalises these ties, transforming speculation into concretestrategic cooperation. The development highlights a broader trend ofdiversified security partnerships in the Muslim world, driven by sharedconcerns over stability and autonomy in an unpredictable internationalenvironment.
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StrategicMutualDefenceAgreement
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