The US and Bangladesh have moved to expand military cooperation following a series of high-level engagements.
The two-day talks, held recently at the Dhaka Cantonment, focused on bolstering army-to-army cooperation through training exchanges, exercises, and broader use of advanced shared military technology.
Both sides emphasized coordinated preparedness for natural and man-made disasters and contributions to regional security.
Discussions were joined by a 22-member Bangladesh Army delegation led by Lt. Col. Mohammad Badrul Haque and a four-member American delegation headed by Maj. Michael Jacob Oster of the US Army Pacific’s security cooperation division.
Brig. Gen. Humayun Kabir, director of the Bangladesh Military Training Directorate, handled the meeting’s opening and closing ceremonies.
Coverage of the talks built on earlier engagements, including the eighth round held in October 2024, according to the South Asian government.
Medical Collaboration, Bilateral Strategy
The event followed a visit by US Army Maj. Gen. E. Darrin Cox, commander of the 18th Theater Medical Command, aimed at strengthening military medical interoperability.
Dialogues laid plans for potential joint drills centered on advanced trauma training, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear response.
Cox also met senior Bangladesh Army leaders and toured medical facilities in Dhaka and Sylhet.
“Our partnership with the Bangladesh Armed Forces is built on a foundation of mutual respect and shared interests in regional stability,” Cox said.
“By collaborating on critical medical training for events like health crises and natural disasters, we are strengthening our combined readiness to meet future challenges together.”
Separately, US Ambassador Brent Christensen met Bangladesh Army Chief Gen. Walker-uz-Zaman to discuss further bilateral military partnerships.
