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Dhaka. Bangladesh has said that there is no threat to it by joining the Mecca Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said being part of this agreement will not limit Dhaka's relations with other countries and partners.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh is discussing the issue and talks with all its bilateral partners are moving in a positive direction. He said that considering the current international circumstances, Bangladesh will have to pursue its foreign policy and security cooperation in a flexible manner. According to Kabir, cooperation in one area does not mean that Bangladesh cannot play its role in other alliances or areas. He said the country will maintain a balance between its international partnerships.

This statement of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir in a media briefing on Sunday comes a few days after the statement given by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rehman in Parliament. Rahman had said in Parliament that Bangladesh would definitely consider taking part in the defense of Mecca if called upon. He said this was an internal matter of “our Muslim family” and there was no scope for others to be troubled by it.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has already said in Parliament that his country views this agreement from a positive perspective. However, he clarified that Bangladesh has not yet received a formal proposal to join. He had said that if Bangladesh receives a proposal to join, Dhaka will consider it positively.

On August 7, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the 'Makkah Joint Defense Agreement'. Its purpose is to strengthen collective resistance against any possible invasion. Under the agreement, if there is an armed attack on any one of the three countries, it will be considered an attack on all. The agreement comes amid rising tensions and regional security concerns in West Asia.

India has also given its response regarding the Mecca Defense Agreement. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India keeps a close watch on all developments bearing on its security and will continue to take necessary steps to ensure its security.

At the same time, some former diplomats and foreign policy experts of Bangladesh have advised caution about joining the military agreement. He says that Bangladesh's traditional policy has been to maintain distance from military alliances and becoming part of any collective security agreement could affect its foreign policy. However, supporters of the agreement believe that it could provide strategic benefits to Bangladesh and strengthen its national security.