Bangladesh considers joining Mecca Pact as new power axis in Asia emerges

A new defence partnership signed between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey is opening the door to a potentially more expansive alliance in Asia. Their Makkah Joint Defence Agreement commits the three countries to treating an armed attack on one as an attack on all. Against this backdrop, Bangladesh has said it is open to joining the framework while carefully assessing its strategic and economic interests. Foreign Affairs Adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister, Humayun Kabir,said Bangladesh is open to participating in an economic or defence arrangement involving the three countries, but only after weighing its own interests. “Bangladesh maintains a positive…