US-Bangladesh security dialogue not meant for any axis in the region: Mozena
Dhaka, Apr 24 (UNB) – US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W. Mozena on Tuesday dismissed the notion that ultimate objective of the Bangladesh-US Security Dialogue is to forge a US-India-Bangladesh axis against China.
“China is not the enemy of America. You never hear that from President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton or Defence Secretary Leon Panetta,” he said during a conversation with a group of journalists at his Gulshan residence on the outcome of the last week’s Security Dialogue between Bangladesh and USA.
Mozena said: “In certain area China may be our competitor. Our competitor is (also) UK, France and Canada. That’s fine.”
He added: “There is no axis between anybody against anybody. China is a rising economic, political, diplomatic and military power. I think they can be a force for good in Bangladesh, in the region and in the world.”
The Ambassador said he thinks Chinese engagement in Bangladesh will be a good thing. China is number one exporter to America, he said and hoped one day Bangladesh would be number one exporter of RMG and household textiles to USA.
Mozena said the security dialogue is not about Bangladesh versus China, it is absolutely not. It is about Bangladesh and US sharing perspectives and permanent objectives on how to work for mutual benefit of both.
The first ever daylong Bangladesh-US Security Dialogue was held at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on April 19. Such dialogue US also holds with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Thailand and the Philippines.
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro and additional secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Kemal led their respective delegation to the dialogue.
Mozena said this is a mechanism USA uses with its friends to exchange views for mutual benefit. This could become a regular dialogue once a year to talk to each other and give strategic directions to the security relations between the two countries.
During the dialogue, he said both sides discussed military to military cooperation on equipment, joint exercise, training and building capacity. Both sides were pleased with the depth of present military to military cooperation, he added.
The US ambassador said the two sides also talked about regional issues and shared their perspectives on developments in China, Afghanistan, Burma and India.
From the US side, he said they shared their views on Bangladesh’s strategic importance to America.
Explaining the ‘strategic interests’, Mozena said Bangladesh is a model of moderate and tolerant democracy alternative to violent extremism. Bangladesh connects the countries in the region including China, Burma, India and it is a bridge between South Asia and South East Asia.
Besides, he said Bangladesh is the largest troops contributing country to the UN peacekeeping missions and USA wants to help train these forces.
On counter-terrorism, the Ambassador said both Bangladesh and America share common view on this issue, saying Bangladesh made remarkable progress in combating terrorism and it has got impressive progress in partnering with India on counterterrorism.
He said Assistant Secretary Andrew Shapiro is deeply impressed with the whole experience about Bangladesh and the US wants to continue the security dialogue.
Besides, Mozena said USA focuses on helping Bangladesh in food, security, trade and investment, health and education, humanitarian relief and disaster management.
In reply to a question, he said the US is now cooperating with coastguard and navy and develop their capacity to defend Bangladesh’s maritime boundary and protect its economic assets through fending off pirates, stealing of fish, and trafficking of drugs and illegal arms.
The Ambassador said after the settlement of maritime dispute with Myanmar, Bangladesh needs to redefine its gas blocks so exploration can start soon.
Replying to another question, he said the US Air Force is now training Bangladesh Air Force para-commandos and also working with Border Guard Bangladesh for better coordination with coastguards and navy.
“China is not the enemy of America. You never hear that from President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton or Defence Secretary Leon Panetta,” he said during a conversation with a group of journalists at his Gulshan residence on the outcome of the last week’s Security Dialogue between Bangladesh and USA.
Mozena said: “In certain area China may be our competitor. Our competitor is (also) UK, France and Canada. That’s fine.”
He added: “There is no axis between anybody against anybody. China is a rising economic, political, diplomatic and military power. I think they can be a force for good in Bangladesh, in the region and in the world.”
The Ambassador said he thinks Chinese engagement in Bangladesh will be a good thing. China is number one exporter to America, he said and hoped one day Bangladesh would be number one exporter of RMG and household textiles to USA.
Mozena said the security dialogue is not about Bangladesh versus China, it is absolutely not. It is about Bangladesh and US sharing perspectives and permanent objectives on how to work for mutual benefit of both.
The first ever daylong Bangladesh-US Security Dialogue was held at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on April 19. Such dialogue US also holds with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Thailand and the Philippines.
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro and additional secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Kemal led their respective delegation to the dialogue.
Mozena said this is a mechanism USA uses with its friends to exchange views for mutual benefit. This could become a regular dialogue once a year to talk to each other and give strategic directions to the security relations between the two countries.
During the dialogue, he said both sides discussed military to military cooperation on equipment, joint exercise, training and building capacity. Both sides were pleased with the depth of present military to military cooperation, he added.
The US ambassador said the two sides also talked about regional issues and shared their perspectives on developments in China, Afghanistan, Burma and India.
From the US side, he said they shared their views on Bangladesh’s strategic importance to America.
Explaining the ‘strategic interests’, Mozena said Bangladesh is a model of moderate and tolerant democracy alternative to violent extremism. Bangladesh connects the countries in the region including China, Burma, India and it is a bridge between South Asia and South East Asia.
Besides, he said Bangladesh is the largest troops contributing country to the UN peacekeeping missions and USA wants to help train these forces.
On counter-terrorism, the Ambassador said both Bangladesh and America share common view on this issue, saying Bangladesh made remarkable progress in combating terrorism and it has got impressive progress in partnering with India on counterterrorism.
He said Assistant Secretary Andrew Shapiro is deeply impressed with the whole experience about Bangladesh and the US wants to continue the security dialogue.
Besides, Mozena said USA focuses on helping Bangladesh in food, security, trade and investment, health and education, humanitarian relief and disaster management.
In reply to a question, he said the US is now cooperating with coastguard and navy and develop their capacity to defend Bangladesh’s maritime boundary and protect its economic assets through fending off pirates, stealing of fish, and trafficking of drugs and illegal arms.
The Ambassador said after the settlement of maritime dispute with Myanmar, Bangladesh needs to redefine its gas blocks so exploration can start soon.
Replying to another question, he said the US Air Force is now training Bangladesh Air Force para-commandos and also working with Border Guard Bangladesh for better coordination with coastguards and navy.
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