Islamabad: Bangladesh has indicated a willingness to join the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, Bangladeshi media reported. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh maintains a positive approach towards joining an economic or defence framework involving the three countries, while considering its own interests and changing global economic and trade dynamics. The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7 amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, agreeing that an armed attack against any one of them would be considered an attack against all. The agreement comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28 and has drawn in several Gulf states while disrupting maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Monitoring Desk
