US Pacific Fleet commander arrives today

Admiral Stephen Koehler, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today for three-day official visit to discuss defence partnership and expand maritime security cooperation, US Embassy in Dhaka said in a statement yesterday.

“During his visit, Admiral Koehler plans to meet with senior Bangladeshi officials to discuss the longstanding US-Bangladesh defense partnership and opportunities to expand cooperation on maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and professional military education,” it said.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The visit comes just three days after US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor’s recent visit to Bangladesh.

Foreign ministry officials said the US-Bangladesh defence cooperation has steadily expanded over the past two decades from traditional military training to maritime security, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, cybersecurity and defence dialogues.

While Bangladesh is not a US treaty ally, it has become an important security partner in the Bay of Bengal and the Indo-Pacific.

The US has been seeking to sign two defence agreements with Bangladesh -- General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).

Bangladesh, meanwhile, wants to procure advanced equipment from the US to modernise the military by 2030.