Featured BD not interested in US defence deal under Indo-Pacific strategy

[PakFactor]

Not really, smart thing would be to leverage this and milk investments from both China and USA.



Turning down US origin equipment when we are in need is an absolute blunder of a decision.

Have to balance the knife and butter. Right now this approach of only getting butter wouldn't do, long run you have to protect your investment's.

 

[mb444]

BD is not saying no to US weapons nor is it saying no to alliance with US leaning countries.... what it is saying saying is that such a move would need a lot of carrots....

China is investing in our economy and infastructure..... why would we jeopardise that for the US....

Come with an open checkbook and we will meet you half way....

BD is open for business with all.... it will not place itself in any camp for any period of time.

All relationship will be balanced based on a long term view and it the interest of the BD.

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

BD is not saying no to US weapons nor is it saying no to alliance with US leaning countries.... what it is saying saying is that such a move would need a lot of carrots....

China is investing in our economy and infastructure..... why would we jeopardise that for the US....

Come with an open checkbook and we will meet you half way....

BD is open for business with all.... it will not place itself in any camp for any period of time.

All relationship will be balanced based on a long term view and it the interest of the BD.

Momen is the FM, BD isn't saying anything constructive, as long as he's the one doing the talking.


I mean, do I need to go into detail, I bet we all know by now what he is.... None of it is good.


Our Foreign policy is a joke, our chief diplomat is the whole circus act in one bloated package.

 

[Michael Corleone]

I will say this is correct decision not to be part of this rivalry game.

"How dare the stooges didn't look into national interest not investing in offensive weapons
dirty awami scoundrels"

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

"How dare the stooges didn't look into national interest not investing in offensive weapons
dirty awami scoundrels"

Being a *★★* is the prerequisite for being Tareq's dish-cum-car washer, like attracts like.

 

[xyxmt]

So BD does not want to buy Arms from US!!
no soup for you!!!

 

[idune]

So BD does not want to buy Arms from US!!
no soup for you!!!

Seinfied line!
Bangladesh had not been getting any smell of soup, let alone soup. Relation with US had been purely transnational. Bangladesh pay full taxes for its export in US market and pays in full for any product it buys. US hyphenated relation with Bangladesh through india. US fomented dissent against the awami regime but failed. Awami regime well aware of what US did and will do at the end. Current awami regime took the decision (if that is the final say) based on its own political interest and relation with US. Contrary of some, it is just foolhardy to think it was done for national interest. This is just happened that in a rare occasion regime insterest aligned with long term national interest.

 

[Destranator]

Under the proposed Indo Pacific Strategy alliance, led by the United States, Bangladesh is not interested in purchasing arms, rather the country wants American investments in infrastructure.

"They want to sell arms, but we are not interested in issues related to conflict," foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told the FE when asked about Bangladesh's stance on the IPS.

This message will be conveyed to the US deputy secretary of state Stephen Biegan as he kicks off his three-day Dhaka visit tomorrow (Wednesday).

Bangladesh feels that the IPS will be effective for the country if it gets US investments in infrastructure building under the strategy.

View attachment 678959

"We have no objection to the Indo Pacific strategy. But they should come forward to the infrastructure development if they want to make the IPS more effective".

"They have to spend money, only talking will not do, they have to invest," the minister said pointing out that the US has no contribution to Bangladesh's infrastructure development.

"They can do it if they want," he said defending his argument.

A recent move by the US to sell sophisticated defence equipment, including Apache helicopters, could not be materialised. US officials admitted that they had several rounds of talks with the authorities concerned on selling of sophisticated US defence equipment, which they claimed 'best in the world'.

According to a recent study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China is the fifth-biggest arms supplier in the world and also supplies most weapons to the region, except India, which is its regional rival

Around 35 per cent of China's arms supplies went to Pakistan between 2013 and 2017, followed by 19 per cent to Bangladesh.

Dhaka procured 71 per cent of its arms from China over the five-year period, and Myanmar 68 per cent.

In view of the growing influence of China in the region, the US and its allies launched the IPS, apparently to counter China's Belt and Rod Initiative (BRI).

Bangladesh has already become a major partner of BRI under which it will get over 25 billion US dollar for building infrastructure.

Recently, the USA has unleashed a fresh diplomatic offensive to revamp its ties with the regional countries, which have become partners of the China-led BRI.

Meanwhile, the visit of the US Deputy Secretary of State is considered part of that effort, analysts said.

Asked about the possible agenda, the minister admitted that IPS will be a major focus in the talks between Bangladeshi officials and Mr Biegun.

However, issues related to Rohingya, visa and Covid cooperation will also come up, he added.

"We'll discuss the Rohingya issue and we will make it clear that we are not interested in only humanitarian assistance, our main goal is repatriation, they must go back to that country," the minister said.

Dr Momen criticised the USA for not issuing visas to some Bangladeshi students, who secured I-20 from American institutions.

"They have not issued visas to Bangladeshi students who got I-20, but students of the neighbouring countries like India and Pakistan got the same category visas. This is discriminatory," he noted.

This is very discriminatory because Bangladesh's condition is better than other nations in terms of Covid control, impact is much lesser in the country, he argued.

"Still, they did not issue visas to our students, this is not good," he said.

"We also want support for our garment sector, which was affected by Covid," the minister said.

For example, the U.S. can offer the garments sector three years' moratorium on duty to enable the country to absorb the shock from Covid, he added.

BD not interested in US defence deal under Indo-Pacific strategy

Under the proposed Indo Pacific Strategy alliance, led by the United States, Bangladesh is not interested in purchasing arms, rather the country wants American investments in infrastructure. They want to sell arms, but we are not interested in issues related to conflict, foreign minister Dr AK...

today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Government unwilling to engage in int’l rivalries: FM

The Bangladesh government is unwilling to engage in rivalries among powerful countries at both international and regional levels, foreign minister AK Abdul Momen said on Monday.

‘We don’t want to engage in rivalries,’ the minister told reporters at his office in view of the move of four countries for expediting the Indo-Pacific Strategy and a scheduled visit of a US deputy secretary to Bangladesh.

On elements of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, propagated by the United States with participation of India, Japan and Australia, Momen said that Bangladesh was interested only in development aspect of the IPS.

‘They have to come up with infrastructure development. They have to invest money. Only talking would not do,’ he said.

US deputy secretary of state Stephen E Biegun is scheduled to reach Dhaka on a three-day official visit today to discuss the Indo-Pacific Strategy among other issues.

Stephen is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Bangladesh counterpart, state minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam, tomorrow.

He would call on prime minister Sheikh Hasina and foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday.

The Indo-Pacific Strategy, trade, including US defence articles’ sales, and COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be in the US agenda, while the Bangladesh side may prefer to talk on attracting US investment and getting greater market access and technical know-how for agriculture, according to diplomatic sources on both sides.

‘They [US] want to sell defence articles,’ the foreign minister said.

They could extend a moratorium on duties on imports from Bangladesh, including RMG products, for three years, he said.

The minister also stressed the need for an end to visa discrimination by the US for Bangladeshi students.

Indian and Pakistani students are getting US visas, while Bangladeshi students are kept waiting for long in spite of confirmation of their admission to US educational institutions, he added.

Stephen was scheduled to reach New Delhi on Monday, starting his five-day tour in India and Bangladesh.

‘It is understandable that the focus of his visit is India,’ a senior Bangladesh official said, indicating to the US presidential elections that will take place in three weeks.

Bangladesh is at risk of becoming a party to international and regional rivalry unless the country maintains a neutral position, keeping strategic affairs and national interests in consideration amid the growing rivalries among countries like India, China, the United States, Australia and Japan, Bangladeshi foreign policy and defence analysts believe.

Government unwilling to engage in int’l rivalries: FM | New Age

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh's foreign policy in a nutshell:
"Build us stuff, hire our labor or buy our T-shirts otherwise eF*** off.
You are either for our T-shirts or against our T-shirts."

Bangladesh wants the US and China to fight over who builds the airport in Noakhali for example.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Seinfied line!
Bangladesh had not been getting any smell of soup, let alone soup. Relation with US had been purely transnational. Bangladesh pay full taxes for its export in US market and pays in full for any product it buys. US hyphenated relation with Bangladesh through india. US fomented dissent against the awami regime but failed. Awami regime well aware of what US did and will do at the end. Current awami regime took the decision (if that is the final say) based on its own political interest and relation with US. Contrary of some, it is just foolhardy to think it was done for national interest. This is just happened that in a rare occasion regime insterest aligned with long term national interest.

Even a decade later... the statistics is similar. We enjoy trade surplus with US whereas trade deficit with China has only widened

 

[Species]

Joys of multipolar world. Not long ago, BD used to be the client state and dealt through Delhi regime. More choices mean more bargaining space. I think world by in charge will be relieved with the rise of China. Unipolar world has been a disaster.

Multipolar Cold War era wasn't good either, if not worse.

 

[The Ronin]

Apache with Longbow radar is the best option without a doubt. If unfortunately it does not come, we better wait for T-129's Turkish engine, ATAK 2 and AW-249 to mature. Honestly i don't see the necessity of attack helicopter right now when there's no 4.5 generation fighter and MR-SAM in our inventory.

If an aircraft is vulnerable to enemy MANPAD, AAA and SHORAD then it's better to use an unmanned one which is more viable option for an armed forces like ours. We haven't even fulfilled the requirement for our combat-transport and utility helicopters i believe, better focus on these things.

Also like we said numerous times before, putting all eggs in one basket is a bad idea. We need to make sure that we won't completely rely on one particular country for our military equipment and spares.
The US is using the Rohingya issue to sell weapons with lip service and isolate us from China. From FM's statement it's even more clear that their main goal is that.

The west want Rohingyas stay in BD for another 10 years and there are only 10 years left for FG-2030. Wouldn't be surprise if they try to monopolize the rest of the arms deal for next 10 years. If US had any interest to solve Rohingya or humanitarian issue in Burma, they would've done it by now by putting economic and arms embargo on Burma. After what US did to Turkey, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia and India we better get involved with this country carefully.

His statement means nothing.

Oh!! Is that so? Whose statement means something then? Yours? Last time i checked he is the FM of GoB and anything he says comes from the PM.

~160 units over 15 years is doable.

 

[nahtanbob]

Apache with Longbow radar is the best option without a doubt. If unfortunately it does not come, we better wait for T-129's Turkish engine, ATAK 2 and AW-249 to mature. Honestly i don't see the necessity of attack helicopter right now when there's no 4.5 generation fighter and MR-SAM in our inventory.

If an aircraft is vulnerable to enemy MANPAD, AAA and SHORAD then it's better to use an unmanned one which is more viable option for an armed forces like ours. We haven't even fulfilled the requirement for our combat-transport and utility helicopters i believe, better focus on these things.

Also like we said numerous times before, putting all eggs in one basket is a bad idea. We need to make sure that we won't completely rely on one particular country for our military equipment and spares.
The US is using the Rohingya issue to sell weapons with lip service and isolate us from China. From FM's statement it's even more clear that their main goal is that.

The west want Rohingyas stay in BD for another 10 years and there are only 10 years left for FG-2030. Wouldn't be surprise if they try to monopolize the rest of the arms deal for next 10 years. If US had any interest to solve Rohingya or humanitarian issue in Burma, they would've done it by now by putting economic and arms embargo on Burma. After what US did to Turkey, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia and India we better get involved with this country carefully.

Bangladesh needs to decide whether they care about the Rohingya issue.

You cannot say you care about it and then sign deals with countries that protect Myanmar from UN Security Council resolutions and turn around & expect others to do your dirty work.

On a side note Bangladesh would be better off looking at F-16s or equivalent frontline fighter aircraft rather than Apaches or attack helicopters

@idune @Atlas @bluesky @The Ronin @DalalErMaNodi

 

[Destranator]

Apache with Longbow radar is the best option without a doubt. If unfortunately it does not come, we better wait for T-129's Turkish engine, ATAK 2 and AW-249 to mature. Honestly i don't see the necessity of attack helicopter right now when there's no 4.5 generation fighter and MR-SAM in our inventory.

If an aircraft is vulnerable to enemy MANPAD, AAA and SHORAD then it's better to use an unmanned one which is more viable option for an armed forces like ours. We haven't even fulfilled the requirement for our combat-transport and utility helicopters i believe, better focus on these things
.........

What is so funny? 160 units (To arm each army division with a 16-unit squadron) by 2035 is certainly affordable especially with ToT. Whether we actually do it is a seperate discussion.

We can buy the first few dozens fully assembled and in the meanwhile set up infrastructure and train manpower to assemble the rest.

Attack helicopters are essential for BA given how difficult most of BD terrain is for tank and troop movement. They will make any land invasion of BD an impossible task for the enemy.

UAVs tech has not yet matured enough to offer the firepower that helicopters can provide.

I see your point regarding lack of MRCA and SAM cover which are essential and should be prioritised but we cannot simply pause modernisation all other areas of the military for that.

 

[Destranator]

Bangladesh needs to decide whether they care about the Rohingya issue.

You cannot say you care about it and then sign deals with countries that protect Myanmar from UN Security Council resolutions and turn around & expect others to do your dirty work.

On a side note Bangladesh would be better off looking at F-16s or equivalent frontline fighter aircraft rather than Apaches or attack helicopters

@idune @Atlas @bluesky @The Ronin @DalalErMaNodi

Foreign relations are not black and white. We cannot cutoff countries simply because they have not sided with us on one issue.

American red tape, strings, and hegemonic tendencies makes them an unreliable supplier although their hardware quality is top notch.

BD should learn from the experience of Egypt, Pakistan, etc. on F-16 procurement/modernisation and stay away.

Eqpt such as light arms, howitzers, transporters, infantry gear, comms equipment, NVG, etc. that do not require much ongoing support are okay to buy from them.

 

[bluesky]

Bangladesh should not expect America to help it build infrastructures. As far as I understand, it will not happen because the engineering and construction companies of America go only to the ME to do that kind of jobs. It was Japan that did this infrastructure building in BD and other countries of the SE Asia.

American companies have a lot of works in their own country and it will become very very expensive to build such things with their help. Yesterday, it was Japan and today, it is Chinese companies who eagerly seek contracts in foreign countries that makes a project cheap.

American involvement may raise the cost of a project 3 times more than the Japanese and many more times than the Chinese. During my job as a part of Japanese engineering/construction team I have once visited Zia Fertilizer Factory. It was built by a Canadian company. It was good, but the Canadian team built all those expensive houses with even swimming pools during their stay.

Americans are more than that and they also have a culture of taking their families with them that makes a project very expensive. In the case of Japanese projects, they build makeshift camps if it is remote areas and no woman goes with them.