US wants Bangladesh Armed Forces to become 'a net security provider in the region'
"We don't look at our relations through the lens of another country. This is something we hear in Bangladesh – that the US sees Bangladesh through the lens of India. I don't think that's true," Maxwell Martin, Indo-Pacific Strategy Officer at the US embassy, also said.
As part of its Indo-Pacific Strategy, the United States wants to see Bangladesh Armed Forces become a "net security provider in the region", revealed Maxwell Martin, Indo-Pacific Strategy Officer at the US embassy in Dhaka.
Martin was speaking at a briefing titled "Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) and its implications for Bangladesh" at the embassy on Thursday (25 April).
When asked to elaborate on what he meant by "net security provider", Martin said the US wanted to help the armed forces achieve its Forces Goal 2030, ensure the country's security, respond to manmade and natural disasters and engage more in UN peacekeeping missions.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"We are helping Bangladesh develop UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) capabilities and aerial surveillance capacity for deployment in UN peacekeeping missions abroad," added Martin.
The briefing was organised to address any possible misconceptions and misunderstanding surrounding the US's Indo-Pacific Strategy. The US defines the strategy as a vision "for an Indo-Pacific region that is free and open and becomes ever more connected, prosperous, secure and resilient".
Martin emphasised that the strategy was not directed to China. "It is not aimed at countering China. It is a vision of how we think the region should look. We have a China strategy that is separate from IPS," he said.
When asked about Bangladesh's close ties to China, Martin added, "We understand that countries have different and multifaceted relationships with China and they want to preserve those ties. In terms of our vision, we want to see a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated.
As long as we see Bangladesh being able to exercise its sovereignty and pursue the path it wants, it would be a positive thing."
Martin said the recent emphasis on labour rights in Bangladesh, and the earlier emphasis on free and fair national elections, were part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
"It has to do with two of the five pillars of IPS, which is "prosperity" and "free open". Strengthening labour rights is key to building a solid middle class," he said, adding that a US Department of Labor Attaché at the embassy was working towards that goal.
On elections, he added, "When we talk about a free Indo-Pacific region, it is also important to apply those principles domestically as well." He added that the earlier imposed sanctions on RAB were part of the vision.
When asked how the IPS has changed the US relations with Bangladesh, the IPS officer said that it had brought a renewed focus on Bangladesh.
"You've seen us be a bit more open and vocal. We are also ramping up our engagement with Bangladesh on multiple fronts – economic, political and security," he said.
On the economic front, Martin said although the strategy will not directly bring in any new funding, existing programs and engagements will be influenced by its vision.
"IPS is multifaceted and implicates a lot of US government agencies. It's a set of guidelines that all parts of the US government can follow. What the IPS does is tell all our government agencies – hey! Here is the vision for the region, and here is how you should tailor your thinking in our programs and your policies."
He added that the Department of Labor Attaché and Commerce attaché will help Bangladesh "design policies that will help the Bangladesh economy and help US companies invest here."
When asked about India playing a leadership role in the region in the implementation of IPS, Martin emphasised that the US looks at its relations with Bangladesh "on a bilateral basis."
"We don't look at our relations through the lens of another country. This is something we hear in Bangladesh – that the US sees Bangladesh through the lens of India. I don't think that's true."
On Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific outlook released in 2023, Martin said there were a number of similarities and overlap, including the emphasis on Bangladesh's resilience, prosperity, maritime security, counter-terrorism capabilities etc.
"Where I would say the difference lies is when it comes to 'free and open'. We believe 'free and open' pertains not only to the region, but the internal political system as well."
