US Pacific Fleet Commander Praises Bangladesh’s Global Peacekeeping Role in Meeting with PM

Online Desk : Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet Admiral Stephen T. Koehler on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and commended Bangladesh’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping missions, particularly its role in Africa.

The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Bangladesh Secretariat, focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster management, bilateral naval cooperation and ways to further strengthen Bangladesh-US relations, according to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed Bangladesh’s capacity and contributions to humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recalled the US-led Operation Sea Angels, launched after the devastating cyclone that struck Bangladesh in 1991, highlighting the longstanding cooperation between the two countries.

Admiral Koehler noted Bangladesh’s participation in several multinational naval exercises and announced that the next Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise will be hosted in Bangladesh in November.

He also referred to Bangladesh’s participation in the Sea Vision Exercise in Singapore and expressed hope that the country would regularly join the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise and other future training programmes.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between Bangladesh and the United States and discussed continued cooperation in the defence sector.

The Bangladesh side reaffirmed the importance it attaches to its relationship with the United States and expressed interest in expanding bilateral cooperation across a broader range of areas.

Admiral Koehler said both countries have significant opportunities to deepen cooperation and voiced optimism that Bangladesh-US relations would continue to strengthen.

“Bangladesh has always stood for peace across the world,” Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said during the meeting.

Among those present were Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, Defence Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Director General of the North America Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials.