India-Bangladesh Relations: US-China Tensions in Bay of Bengal in 2024

Universeaffairs
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India-Bangladesh Relations with water

India-Bangladesh Relations is one of the key metrics of South Asian foreign status. America wants control of Saint Martin. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is an asylum seeker in India, has made such allegations several times while in power. Washing has shaken the conspiracy to fix the Awami League leader for not complying with the demands of the United States. Rumors have surfaced at various times before and after August 5.

China’s opportunities are growing at a massive rate despite India’s forehead burning in support of the autocratic leader. In such a situation, the question arises of how Bangladesh will handle the superpowers’ interests. Just how important is St. Martin’s location geographically?

 

India-Bangladesh Relations
India-Bangladesh Relations

The US needs a military base in the Bay of Bengal to build a strong position against China. Since adopting the Global Defense Postal Review plan in 2004, the Pentagon has been looking for opportunities to establish military bases in the Indo-Pacific. Such information was reported by the international news media Eurasia Times.

Some observers believe that the US wants to keep control of the Straits of Malacca in its own hands mainly to monitor China. In that case, the Arabian Sea along with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can be the ideal place. If the US establishes a base in the Bay of Bengal, it will create an easy opportunity for intelligence surveillance against China.

If the Americans get a foothold in the country militarily, they can build a strong position in the region against Beijing. If the base is established in the Bay of Bengal, the US will be able to monitor 60% of China’s trade routes from there. Recently, a report from the US Naval Institute has revealed this information.

India-Bangladesh Relations
India-Bangladesh Relations

China was unhappy with the Hasina government over India’s growing ties with Bangladesh. However, Beijing has continued to try to improve relations. Despite Delhi’s objections, China has become one of Dhaka’s biggest trading partners.

According to a statistic published in 2023, Bangladesh has at least 25 Chinese projects underway. Among these, China’s investment in 9 large projects is 89.8 billion dollars. In addition to government investment, the amount of Chinese private investment in Bangladesh has increased at a large rate.

Many analysts believe that the geographical location of the Bay of Bengal, which borders Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar, is not very important from a military strategic point of view.

However, in recent times, China’s dominance has increased in the whole region of the Bay of Bengal. As a result, the importance of the Bay of Bengal has increased for all anti-China parties.

India-Bangladesh Relations
India-Bangladesh Relations

On the other hand, many observers believe that although there is friendship between Washington and New Delhi, if the US military presence in the region is strong, India’s hegemony will gradually decrease.

The United States has more than 800 military bases in 80 countries around the world. These bases have a special role in the politics of allied countries. Ever since the fall of Hasina, the friendship between India and Bangladesh has been cooling. China will soon move to fill that void.

Despite the old rumors about the US base in the Bay of Bengal, there has been no action on the part of the US. However, in the current situation, Bangladesh has to be very careful at every step in the international arena.

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