Saudi-led alliance not against Iran
Bangladesh has joined a Saudi Arabia-led multinational maritime defence alliance to help tackle the threat posed by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir described the move as part of Dhaka’s growing strategic partnership with the Kingdom apart from other bilateral relations.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, Kobir said Bangladesh’s decision to join the alliance should not be interpreted as being directed against Iran, stressing that Dhaka continues to maintain dialogue with Tehran.
“It is an alliance to tackle the activities of the Houthis. Whatever resources we have, we will extend,” Kobir said when asked about the rationale behind Bangladesh’s participation in the Saudi-led initiative.
He said Bangladesh’s relationship with Saudi Arabia had evolved beyond religious ties centred on Hajj and Umrah and was now a broader strategic partnership.
“The relationship with Saudi Arabia will not simply be limited to pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah, nor is it just from a religious perspective,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia, as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, holds a special place for Bangladesh.
Kobir said Bangladesh would always respond positively if Saudi Arabia sought security-related cooperation, citing the close moral and strategic relationship between the two countries.
He emphasised that the alliance was primarily intended to address the Houthi challenge while making clear that Bangladesh’s engagement with Saudi Arabia would not come at the expense of its relations with Iran.
“We are also talking with Iran. Therefore, there is no reason to see this as excluding or hurting Iran in any way,” he said.
Bangladesh is among 14 countries that have expressed support for the Saudi-led multinational maritime defence alliance and endorsed the consensus reached on its foundational arrangements.
The other signatories are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.
The alliance was announced by Saudi Arabia to strengthen collective maritime defence cooperation and safeguard freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, areas that have witnessed repeated attacks on commercial shipping.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Defence, the initiative aims to enhance cooperation against threats to maritime security, protect international sea lanes and global trade, and promote regional and international stability.
The Kingdom will serve as the founding and leading state of the alliance and host its headquarters.
Military planners from participating countries will continue work on finalising the alliance’s charter, organisational structure, command and control arrangements and operational mechanisms before its formal launch.
During the same media briefing, Kobir also highlighted Bangladesh’s balanced foreign policy, saying the country was strengthening ties with all major partners.
Referring to the recent visit of US Special Envoy Sergio Gor, he described it as an introductory and exploratory visit aimed at further deepening bilateral relations.
He said discussions covered trade, investment, technology, regional cooperation and the Indo-Pacific, although no detailed agreements were reached as it was Gor’s first visit to Dhaka.
“The visit was meant to strengthen relations with Bangladesh. The meetings were held in a very cordial atmosphere.
We discussed investment, technology, trade and business. Bangladesh is a potential technological hub,” Kobir said.
He added that Bangladesh welcomed investment from both China and the United States, saying the country’s foreign policy remained guided by the principle of “Bangladesh First”, with national interests taking precedence while maintaining balanced relations with all partners.
Kobir said Bangladesh’s foreign policy and economic security were closely linked and required an integrated approach, adding that Dhaka sought to strengthen strategic engagement with countries including Saudi Arabia, the United States, China and Russia while pursuing its national interests.
