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Published : 10 Oct 2012, 04:08 PM
—Military diplomacy has increased manifold between Dhaka and Washington as the US has key interest in Asia Pacific and South Asia region, Commander of US Pacific Command Admiral Samuel J Locklear said on Wednesday.
"We did an assessment and ask us a pretty simple question – what part of the world is our key interest for future and the answer is Asia Pacific and South Asia," Locklear said while exchanging views with a group of selected journalists at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka.
He met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Army chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan and Navy chief Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed.
Secretary of US Navy Ray Mabus, Commanding General of US Army Pacific Command Lieutenant General Francis J Wiercinski, Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Scott Swift and Deputy Commander of Army National Guard of US Army Pacific Major General Joseph J Chaves visited Bangladesh this year.
The first-ever Bangladesh-US security dialogue was held in Dhaka in April while military dialogue was held in Hawaii in September.
Rebalancing in Asia
Washington is rebalancing its engagement as its focus has been shifted from the Middle East, Admiral Locklear said.
"In the last decades our military focus is primarily on the Middle East due to counterterrorism but these activities have come down," he said.
There is a rebalancing of engagement in not only about military but also about diplomatic and economic arena.
"Because of rebalance, you are seeing more activities by senior leadership devoted to Asia Pacific and South Asia and I think you should expect to see it continued," said the four-star admiral, who joined the Navy at 17 and would turn 58 next week.
Bangladesh engagement
The Admiral sees no problem if Bangladesh has military engagement with other powers in the region including China.
"Of course, Bangladesh can have productive role in other powers in the region," Locklear said, "In the end, we will have security environment where everyone participates."
The US admiral categorically said Washington would only help Bangladesh if its government asked for it.
He emphasised having more joint military exercise and said Washington might provide defence equipment including ships to Bangladesh.
Special forces
Admiral Locklear said US special forces have been operating in some countries with the consent of the respective governments.
His predecessor Robert F Willard once said the special forces were working in five Asian countries including Bangladesh.
"We have some special force operations but it is within the full concurrence of the governments of those countries."
US Pacific Command covers 36 countries, 3.6 billion people and five of out seven allies of the US are located in the area.
