Sadeq Khan
A U.S. Department of State Diplomacy in Action media note about U.S.-Bangladesh Dialogue on Security Issues released by the office of its spokesperson, Washington DC stated: “On April 22, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Tom Kelly and Additional Foreign Secretary Mustafa Kamal chaired the third U.S.-Bangladesh Dialogue on Security Issues. The dialogue reflects our growing defence relationship with Bangladesh, and our shared commitment to peace and prosperity in the region. It supports our growing partnership in maritime security, counterterrorism, disaster risk management, peacekeeping, law enforcement, non-proliferation, joint military exercises and exchanges, and other security issues.
The discussions touched on a broad range of security-related topics, including strategic priorities and regional issues, security assistance, global security, and non-proliferation cooperation.”
In a joint press conference at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Dhaka on April 23 after the end of the dialogue, Additional Secretary (Bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Kamal said: “Bangladesh and the United States maritime and border security cooperation is meant for regional security and not for checking piracy alone. There is no piracy in the coastline of the Bay of Bengal. US wants to provide us security on the coastline as there is huge open sea and Bangladesh does not have capabilities to protect the area.”
Piracy exists in the Bay
Foreign Secretary (bilateral) Mustafa Kamal was perhaps economising with the truth when he said there was no piracy in Bangladesh coastal waters. In fact, Bangladeshi fishermen suffer a lot in the hands of Indian pirates who take away fishload of boats and push victims to the sea or simply kill them. Some Indian pirates even dare to venture into our part of Sundarbans for prey.
But they are threats of low category indeed, marine dacoits rather than skilled pirates, to combat whom we have already developed enhanced coastguard capacity. Perhaps it was to emphasize the broader and more far-reaching dimension of marine security cooperation agreed between Bangladesh and the USA that Foreign Secretary Kamal dismissed the relatively minor matter of piracy. This became clear from questions in the press conference and responses both by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Kamal and US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Kelly. When asked as to why there has been dialogue on a number of occasions about maritime security with the US as there is no piracy in the coastline of the Bay Bengal, Mustafa Kamal said Bangladesh needs US security cooperation as the country’s coastal area gets bigger after winning the maritime dispute with Myanmar. Since the first US-Bangladesh dialogue on security issues in 2012, the key point of discussion was cooperation with coast guard and navy to develop their capacity to defend Bangladesh’s maritime boundary and protect the country’s economic assets, fending off pirates, guarding against stealing of fish, and combating traffic of drugs and illegal arms.
Maritime strategy
On May 23, 2013 US handed over Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis to Bangladesh Navy under the bilateral cooperation. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Tom Kelly said the US recognizes that Bangladesh is located in a vital region, which requires it to play an important role in maintaining security in the Bay of Bengal. He said the US continues to implement President Obama’s objective to intensify US role in the Asia-Pacific and play a larger and long-term role in shaping the region and its future: “The United States promotes American interests by helping to ensure nations respect international law and norms, including freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce, encouraging confidence building and integration among neighbouring nations, and that all countries resolve disagreements peacefully without threats or coercion. Our relationship with Bangladesh fits into this broader strategy and commitment to the rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific.”
Tom Kelly also said he thinks Chinese engagement in Bangladesh will be a good thing. The dialogue is nothing about Bangladesh versus China: “We respect Bangladesh’s sovereign rights in this respect… we support and welcome engagement with Bangladesh and other countries of South Asia as the United States and Bangladesh face numerous shared challenges in the region, which we can tackle together. Our security relationship with Bangladesh focuses on four pillars: humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peace through (peacekeeping operations and defence cooperation), counterterrorism and security (through both maritime and land border). A strong bilateral partnership and improved defence ties between Bangladesh and the United States are in both of our interests, and will contribute to our common desire for stability, peace, and prosperity in the region.”
Changing security environment
Writing on US military “rebalance” in Asia Pacific for the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi, researcher Upadhyay remarked: “The US is mindful that establishing a military posture with deterrence as well as punitive capability is required in the changing security environment.
“(US Defence Secretary Chuck) Hagel, during his stop in China, was greeted with a tour of the country’s lone aircraft carrier, Liaoning. The Chinese side trumpeted the visit as a show of transparency – a response to US’ constant nudging of the Chinese military.
“For Pentagon, Chinese assertiveness, military modernisation and secretiveness have become a headache, especially as its own defence spending has been declining. The Liaoning tour was viewed by many as a Chinese attempt to project its naval power. In February 2014, the Chinese military surprised the Australian government by conducting military exercises closer to Australian territory, between Indonesia and Christmas Island. Aggressive remarks in Chinese defence circles highlight the prevailing uncertainty in the region’s security environment.
“Chinese daily Global Times stated that ‘US warships in the East China Sea were slowly being considered as moving targets. When facing China these soldiers are not worth anything.’ Beijing has also redefined its understanding of ‘national security’ with a comprehensive coverage and dual emphasis on external and internal security with eleven security areas: politics, territories, military, economy, culture, community, science and technology, information, ecology, natural resources and nuclear.”
In the conduct of the 3rd US-Bangladesh security dialogue (the first was held in Dhaka, April 2012 and the second in Washington, April 2013) and the post-dialogue press conference, there was no hint of China-phobia whatsoever discernible, either from Bangladesh or from the US side.
Conjecture on naval posture
On the other hand, some Indian strategic writers have made conjectures and enquiries about possible US intentions to station some Seventh Fleet vessels in the Swatch of No Ground which extends into the deep sea along belt of marine borders between Bangladesh and India. The naval posture, according to Indian security analysts’ conjecture, may be to underline US material interest in protecting US companies’ hydrocarbon exploration in the off-shore concessions given by Bangladesh. Interestingly, in the same marine zone in line with the Swatch of No Ground, Bangladesh has recently granted two concessions for exploration of oil and gas to an Indian state-owned company.
Source: Weekly Holiday
