In 1971, when Bangladesh achieved its independence, the then US
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dubbed Bangladesh 'basket case.' But
only after four decades the current US secretary of state is
considering Bangladesh its 'strategic partner.' Small actors of global
politics are enjoying greater attention in post cold war international
system. Fareed Zakaria presumed rightly in his book 'The Post American
World' about the 'rise of the rest.' The US is truly feeling the hit of
new emerging nations like Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has become a
'new' cynosure of the US in South Asia. This has to be defined as 'new'
because of rapid changing approaches that are taking place in the
strategic landscape of South Asia. These approaches include- significant
changes that have come to pass in the US global strategy particularly
shifting focus from Middle East to the Asia Pacific along with the
issues of Myanmar and Pakistan. A 'new Myanmar' is igniting the new
possibilities of democratic renaissance and revisiting its existing
relationships with global powers e.g. the US and China. Pak-US relations
are in a state of see-saw. And this is almost a daunting task for the
US to maintain a steady bonhomie relationship with Pakistan taking into
accounts it's never decreasing home grown terrorists and anti American
sentiments existing among Pakistanis. So the recent strategic
partnership between Bangladesh and the US cannot merely be viewed from
narrow perspective of the US's strategic interest in the region but
beyond.
On April 19, this year Bangladesh and the US for the
first time exchanged their views in the areas of counter-terrorism,
disaster management, maritime security and UN peacekeeping operations.
The US delegation was led by Assistant Secretary of State for
Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro while Bangladesh delegation
was led by the additional foreign secretary. On May 5, Bangladesh
Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and the US Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton signed a Joint Declaration on "Bangladesh-US Partnership
Dialogue," Partnership dialogue is based on a long-term shared vision,
based on convergence of strategic interests, mutual trust, confidence in
each other and respect for each other's strategic sensitivities.
Why
the US is so much enthusiastic about Bangladesh? Bangladesh was never a
trivial matter to the US since its independence. The importance has
been sustaining because of several relevant matters- the geo-strategic
location of Bangladesh, a constant point, and Bangladesh, a role model
for many Muslim countries as a moderate-Muslim-democratic country. But
the global scenario has changed those traditional variables of
Bangladesh. Now Bangladesh is one of the best 'Muslim friends' for the
US among a few ones. Arab spring has weakened the strongholds of the US
in Arab world. It had a disaster in Iraq and in a conundrum in
Afghanistan. The US desperately needs to uplift its image among the
Muslim nations. It is looking for strengthening relationship with the
Muslim world. Now there is an inter-governmental forum to exchange views
between the US in one side and the Muslim world on the other. In the
last meeting of the 'US-Islamic World Forum' which was held in Doha,
Bangladesh's Premier Sheikh Hasina was an important speaker. As a part
of strengthening relationship with Muslim majority countries the US
wants to see Bangladesh a friendly one who will speak out against
terrorism, fundamentalism and for democracy.
Changes in Myanmar is
the another important issue which have brought Bangladesh in the
American good book. Energy rich Myanmar is important for both the US and
India. The decision to return to democracy by the autocratic rulers of
Myanmar has impressed Obama administration. To ensure a stable
transition towards democracy it is important that Myanmar is getting
steady support from its neighboring countries like India and Bangladesh.
The US would like to see both India and Bangladesh are assisting
Myanmar to make its way through. As a gesture of friendship Bangladesh's
PM also paid her visit to Myanmar just a few days later Mrs. Hillary
Clinton had had it. During that visit it was reported that the
agreements were signed on the following areas: banking, road, air and
shipping, cooperation in fisheries, cooperation in agriculture and
cooperation in gas and hydro-power.
The US is also considering
Bangladesh as a potential destination for selling outmoded arms and
instruments. In a recent bid to modernise the tactical transport
aircraft fleet of the Air Force, Bangladesh has decided to purchase four
Lockheed MC-130Es from the United States at an estimated cost of $180
million. In the official documents of this contract the US government
said that the proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by enabling the Bangladesh Air
Force (BAF) to respond more capably to humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief needs and support operations to counter violent
extremist organizations.
In the concluding remarks I want to say
that the strategic interest of the US in Bangladesh is multifaceted. It
shouldn't be limited within the typical framework of 'China-fear.'
Especially it is difficult to say about Bangladesh that it will join
India-US axis against China in a game of balance of power in Asia.
Sino-Bangla relationship has a deep rooted base. There are significant
economic, military and cultural level relationship between Bangladesh
and China. Anti-US and Anti-India sentiment prevails overwhelmingly in
public perception in Bangladesh. So the strategic partnership requires
many basic works to be done to achieve success. Success in public
diplomacy is one of the basic components in this endeavor. From
Bangladesh point of view there are opportunities while at the same time
there are adversaries. The leverage it has must be utilized properly.
There nothing to be lured but maximization of national interests.
This article was published on 16the June this year in the Daily Star.
