US wants Bangladesh to join Indo-Pacific Strategy

[Black_cats]

US wants Bangladesh to join Indo-Pacific Strategy​

The IPS was established in early 2022 to partner with like-minded countries in the region, facing mounting challenges, particularly from China

National flags of Bangladesh and US Bigstock
Sheikh Shahariar Zaman
January 11, 2023 11:04 AM

The United States wants Bangladesh to be part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), a White House brainchild aimed at strengthening its long-term position in and commitment to the region.
This US-led partnership covers a region which is home to more than half of the world's people, nearly two-thirds of the world's economy, and seven of the world's largest militaries.

During her meetings with high officials in Dhaka, Rear Admiral Eileen Lubacher, a senior director for South Asia of the US National Security Council, conveyed a message from the Biden administration to Bangladesh that the US would not neglect the smaller countries in the region, stretching from its Pacific coastline to the Indian Ocean.

Lubacher discussed the matter with Prime Minister's Security Adviser Major General (Retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and also visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar. She left Dhaka on Tuesday after a four-day visit.

About Dhaka's response in this regard, a top official of the Foreign Ministry said the position of Bangladesh on joining the IPS was being worked on because Bangladesh is interested in working on any economic issue.

The IPS was established in early 2022 to partner with like-minded countries in the region, facing mounting challenges, particularly from China.

It is a partnership that will promote and facilitate high-standards in trade, govern the digital economy, improve supply-chain resiliency and security, catalyze investment in transparent, high-standards infrastructure, and build digital connectivity, according to White House documents.

Apart from the IPS, the US has also been persuading Bangladesh to join in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the “Quad”, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). On the other hand, Beijing has alerted Dhaka about the possible consequences of joining the US-led anti-China coalitions.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Momen recently said the government was assessing the pros and cons of the IPEF, while noting that handling Washington and Beijing at the same time is a challenging task.

Rohingya problem​

At the meetings with Lubacher, Dhaka requested Washington to exert more pressure on Myanmar to repatriate the Rohingyas.

After the influx in 2017, not a single Rohingya has been sent back. Even though many efforts have already been made, Bangladesh has not been able to advance far due to Myanmar's reluctance to act on the issue.

The Foreign Ministry official said the US had already recognized the Rohingya genocide that took place in 2017. Now Bangladesh wants the US to play an effective role in expediting the repatriation process.

Stability in the region is very much dependent on solving the Rohingya crisis, and Dhaka has requested Washington to understand this issue.

Security cooperation​

Bangladesh is facing various security risks, including human trafficking, drug smuggling and illegal fishing in the sea. Apart from these issues, the issue of US cooperation was also discussed between the two sides during the visit of Lubacher.

Dhaka also raised the issue of the Rohingyas being subjected to human trafficking by sea and getting involved in various types of drug smuggling.

The US can help with training or various security equipment to combat drug smuggling and provide ships to prevent illegal immigration by sea. Earlier, the US had given several fast-moving Shark speedboats to Bangladesh.

There will be more security related talks during the visit of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, who is touring India and Bangladesh on January 12-15, for meetings on a range of priorities.

While in Bangladesh, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with senior Bangladeshi officials and civil society leaders to discuss strengthening Dhaka-Washington bilateral relations, expanding economic engagement and hear their perspectives on labor and human rights.

US Embassy: Laubacher's visit underscores US commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh

During her four-day visit, Laubacher and other NSC representatives visited Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar

www.dhakatribune.com

 

[UKBengali]

US can just jog on as BD does not take sides.

 

[Tom-tom]

আওয়ামী লীগের ঠ্যাঙাড়ে গুলি আসলে বাংলাদেশের বিপদ বুঝতেছে না। অবশ্য মাথায় কিছু থাকলে তো আর আওয়ামী লীগের দালালী কর‍ত না!

Unfortunately bhia jaan I can't read bangla, pls can u tell what's it saying and keep it impartial pls

 

[fallstuff]

Hasina just might sign this deal, that's why Chinese Foreign Minister stopped in the middle of night and Algo Momen had to put on his fake hair to meet him.

 

[bluesky]

US can just jog on as BD does not take sides.

A very rich BD can jog on and deny sending high volume of textile goods to America. BD can sanction America and cut off the trade relationship to become another Chinese satellite like North Korea.

We all know, Hasina Bibi is now desperate to survive the situation the country is going through because of overborrowing. She needs Chinese money to overcome the hurdle.

She is a spoiled woman needing punishment for overborrowing that she cannot repay anymore without Chinese money.

 

[Black_cats]

Dhaka studying US Indo-Pacific Strategy: Momen

BANGLADESH​

UNB
13 January, 2023, 05:45 pm
Last modified: 13 January, 2023, 05:47 pm

Photo: BSS

Dhaka studying US Indo-Pacific Strategy: Momen

Ahead of US official Donald Lu's visit, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday said Bangladesh stands ready to do whatever is needed for the people's welfare, noting that the government is still studying the issues related to US Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS). "It's not that transparent. It's...

www.tbsnews.net

Photo: BSS

Ahead of US official Donald Lu's visit, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday said Bangladesh stands ready to do whatever is needed for the people's welfare, noting that the government is still studying the issues related to US Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS).

"It's not that transparent. It's not mentioned there how it will bring benefits. We are studying," he told reporters while talking about the IPS and its economic component.

Donald Lu, who became Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs on September 15, 2021, is scheduled to arrive here on January 14 wrapping up his India tour.

"We will raise our issues. It's very normal to have good relations between Bangladesh and the United States," Momen said.

Donald Lu will have meetings on a range of priorities including energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labour, and human rights.

He will meet with senior Bangladeshi officials and civil society leaders to discuss strengthening their bilateral relationship, expanding economic engagement and hear their perspectives on labour and human rights, according to the US Department of State.

Momen said Bangladesh and the US believe in the same values and promote democracy and human rights.

Bangladesh has set an example in the world by sacrificing 30 lakh lives to establish democracy, ensure justice and human rights, Momen said, adding that "Our principles and values are almost the same."

He said the US is a friendly country and Bangladesh accepts if they come up with any constructive suggestions.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said he sees the visit of Assistant Secretary Lu as part of regular engagements between the two sides.

"We will discuss whole range of issues, not that only election and human rights issues will be discussed," said the foreign secretary.

He said there are many areas where Bangladesh has some expectations while the US side might have some expectations from Bangladesh. "We will discuss frankly."

The FS said there are strategies on Indo-Pacific from the US, Canada, Japan and the European Union.

"It's not that we are joining in any particular group or not. We are preparing some elements on how we want to see the Bay of Bengal and beyond," Masud said.

During her visit to Bangladesh last week, US Senior Director for South Asia, National Security Council Eileen Laubacher said as a large portion of the Indo-Pacific region, the Bay of Bengal contains vital shipping lanes and undersea cables that power the region's economies by moving food, fuel, goods, and data.

Ensuring these lanes remain free and open is imperative for the economic health and national security of the United States, Bangladesh, and all countries in the region, she told media.

The Bay is also a vital ecosystem and a microcosm for many of the shared non-traditional security issues "we face across the globe, from stemming the effects of climate change, countering illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing that can devastate food sources, and combatting the trafficking of people, arms, and narcotics" she said.

"These challenges cannot be overcome alone, they require cooperation," she said adding that the United States and Bangladesh are working hard to address these challenges. "This is part of our shared vision for a free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific region," she said.