‘The United States wants Bangladesh to be able to respond positively to various issues including disasters’

Maxwell Martin, an Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) expert at the US Embassy in Dhaka, said that the US wants Bangladesh to become a responsible ‘net security provider’ in the region and that Bangladesh is able to respond positively to natural disasters and other issues with its growing capabilities. He said this at a press briefing on ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) and its implications for Bangladesh’ at the US Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday (April 25).

Maxwell Martin said, ‘Bangladesh has made a lot of progress over the years and we are proud to be a part of that effort. We hope the Government of Bangladesh will see the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) as an opportunity to collaborate with us and our partners to help address Bangladesh’s security concerns.’

This American expert said that Bangladesh-US cooperation to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region is only one aspect of their extensive bilateral relations. He said, ‘The US-Bangladesh relationship is driven by our two countries’ common history, values ​​and future prospects. It is not defined by India, China, Russia or any third country.’

In response to a question, Maxwell Martin said that they see their relations with the countries of the South Asian region and the Indo-Pacific region in general on a bilateral basis. He said, ‘We do not see our relations with other countries from the perspective of other countries. We sometimes hear in Bangladesh through the media and some people’s comments, that the US sees Bangladesh in the light of India’s perspective. I think this is not true.’

Noting that the United States views its relationship with Bangladesh as a base of common interests and bilateral priorities, Martin said, “Enhanced and renewed engagement with Bangladesh must be part of the Indo-Pacific strategy.” The United States seeks to ensure a free and open region, enrich, strengthen security, and strengthen connectivity and advance interdependence.’

This American IPS expert said, ‘We will fix all these issues and engage with the Bangladesh government and create clear opportunities for partnership between the five pillars. Indo-Pacific strategy is a positive and progressive approach. It consists of five equally important and interconnected pillars.’

On the role of civil society, the private sector and experts in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, Maxwell Martin said he sees all these organizations and institutions playing an important role.

Martin said the IPS is not aimed at confronting China, it’s just a vision. In light of that vision, the United States understands how the region should be and how the region should be free and open, prosperous, secure, connected and tolerant, and how it can benefit the peoples and nations of the Indo-Pacific region.

This US diplomat said, ‘Of course we have a policy on China. It is separate from the Indo Pacific Strategy and deals with investment, alignment and competitiveness. China is a major leading country in the region.’

IPS experts said they want people to understand what the Indo-Pacific strategy is, as there is sometimes confusion about it. He said, ‘We want to increase our cooperation and involvement with Bangladesh. We have always been saying, the faster the Bangladesh government moves, the faster we are ready to move and will continue this discussion.’

In response to a question, Maxwell Martin said, ‘I want to emphasize that the Quad is not an alliance. It is not a military alliance. It is an alliance of countries with common interests in the region. They can come together and think about common problems and ways of dealing with problems in different ways. That’s what Quad really is.’

Martin said he did not think the quad was something Bangladesh should fear. We understand that Bangladesh balances its relations with us and others in the region. He said, ‘Good governance in Bangladesh means prosperity, they are very focused on this idea. This is one of the main goals of our political involvement in Bangladesh.

Maxwell Martin said, “The United States wants to see a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated, and this principle applies everywhere.” As the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing region, the Indo-Pacific strategy is a top priority for US foreign policy and essential to shared global security and prosperity, he added.

Noting that the United States welcomed the release of Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook in April 2023, Martin said, “We have many common interests and look forward to our engagement in building inclusive economic prosperity and environmental and social resilience in the face of the multifaceted threats of the 21st century.”

“The US Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) is not a military alliance and it does not seek to be a military alliance,” Martin said. It defines what we stand for and what we are not against. It is not a club that anyone can join, but it has the same attitude towards any race and people.’

This American IPS expert said, ‘It is not our goal to force countries to choose between the United States and any other partner. Rather, it is a matter of ensuring that the region is free and open, where countries are free to make their own choices.’

Maxwell Martin expressed hope that the US Indo-Pacific Strategy released in February 2022 contains a commitment and a unified vision for the Indo-Pacific region, which will become free and open and more connected, prosperous, secure and tolerant. He said, ‘Many countries and peoples of the Indo-Pacific share aspects of this vision for the region. When we work together, we can build a better future together.’

Martin said many countries, including the United States, have important economic and people-to-people ties with China in the region, which they want to preserve. He said, ‘Each country will manage its bilateral relations and interests differently. We don’t expect every country to value China the same way we do.’

The US IPS expert said President Biden has made it clear that the US and China can and should work together on global challenges such as climate change, macroeconomic resilience, health protection and food security. “We want to manage competition responsibly in US-China relations and are determined to avoid conflict or conflict,” he said.

Maxwell Martin said, ‘The United States is working closely with partners to keep the Indo-Pacific region free, open and accessible, to connect within and outside of it, to achieve regional prosperity, to strengthen regional security, and to increase regional resilience in the face of 21st century transnational threats. There are many concrete examples of this work across the region, including Bangladesh.’