Amid rising regional security threats, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh have deepened their military-to-military exchanges to bolster defense cooperation.
Riyadh and Dhaka already have robust economic and labor ties. Boosting defense and security collaboration adds a new dimension to their bilateral relations, elevating the partnership to a pillar of collective resilience in the Middle East and South Asia.
Maritime Security Discussions
Driving the News: The Navy Chiefs of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh held discussions on Monday, September 7, 2026. Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Mohammed Al-Ghuraibi, received his Bangladeshi counterpart, Admiral Khondkar Misbah-ul-Azim, at the Naval Forces Headquarters in Riyadh.
The Big Picture: According to the Saudi Defense Ministry, the two navy chiefs discussed aspects of bilateral naval military cooperation and avenues for bolstering joint efforts to address threats and challenges facing maritime navigation and sea lanes security.
The Context: Bangladesh is a founding member of the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition, alongside Saudi Arabia and 12 other nations. The defense coalition’s core objective is to address and deter the growing threats to maritime security, including attacks against commercial vessels, energy tankers, and naval infrastructure in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
Defense Cooperation Expansion
State of Play: Riyadh and Dhaka have placed greater emphasis on deepening their defense cooperation, particularly in the fields of military training, education, expertise exchange, technology transfer, and joint exercises.
The Backstory: On September 2, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah bin Abaiah met with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s Adviser on Defense Matters, AKM Shamsul Islam, in Dhaka. Their discussions focused on exploring ways to strengthen bilateral relations, most notably in the defense sector.
Zoom In: The two officials stressed the need to boost higher training programs and course exchanges between Bangladesh’s National Defense College (NDC) and Defense Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and Saudi Arabia’s premier military academies to enhance personnel skills and capabilities, according to Business In Bangladesh.
Furthermore, they committed to sharing technical expertise and operational experience in disaster management and humanitarian response, while affirming their shared goal to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership through regular high-level military exchanges.
The Catalyst: Bangladesh is a member of the Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) – a pan-Islamic alliance launched by Riyadh in 2015 to bolster joint efforts and intelligence sharing to counter terrorism and extremism. Moreover, the South Asian country is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. In light of this, Saudi Arabia highly appreciates the professionalism and overall capabilities of the Bangladeshi Armed Forces.
Bangladesh & Makkah Alliance: A Potential Candidate
Between the Lines: Bangladesh is a potential candidate to join the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement (Makkah Alliance) alongside Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan. While it has not been formally invited, Dhaka signaled that it is positively considering joining the pact. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh was consulting its bilateral partners and that discussions were progressing positively.
Flashback: Following a trilateral summit in Makkah on August 7, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammed Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, also known as the Makkah Alliance.
The Anchor: The pact establishes that “any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all.” Moreover, the three countries stressed that it is an open, cooperative security framework designed to stabilize the Middle East through collective deterrence rather than conflict. They have also signaled that the defense pact is open to all brotherly countries that aim for the peace, prosperity, and stability of the region.
In His Words: “If there is a security arrangement among Islamic nations in the Middle East, it is not unusual for us to consider participating. It is being viewed positively.” – Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Saudi Arabia’s Approach: Balanced Partnerships
Go Deeper: Located in South Asia along the northern coast of the Bay of Bengal, the world’s largest bay, Bangladesh sits at a critical maritime crossroads. It overlooks key sea lanes connecting the Indian Ocean to the Strait of Malacca and East Asia, through which much of the Middle East’s energy exports pass to major Asian markets.
Why It Matters: Deepening security and defense relations with Bangladesh aligns with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support maritime stability across vital trade corridors and ensuring energy security while reinforcing a key bilateral partnership in the region. In parallel, Bangladesh has a direct stake in the security of the Arabian Sea, through which much of its Gulf energy shipments flow.
The Strategy: Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has adopted a deliberate approach based on forging balanced partnerships and alliances across the diplomatic, defense, and economic fronts to maintain the Kingdom’s stability, security, and sovereignty.
The Takeaway: Given its strategic location, Bangladesh’s maritime stability directly intersects with Saudi Arabia’s strategic trade interests and energy security. By expanding cooperation, Riyadh and Dhaka build a modern defense framework based on mutual trust and shared goals.
