U.S Plans To Deploy Warships In Bangladesh, Closer To India & China

The United States and Bangladesh are signing defence agreements, which will allow America to deploy its naval warships in the Bay of Bengal.

This deal will give U.S Navy ships direct access to Dhaka’s ports and airports for maintenance, refuelling, and resupply operations and ports like Chittagong and Matarbari are expected to play a crucial role. 

This is a matter of concern for India since it has maintained a strong naval presence in the region’s waters, given that the Bangladeshi navy has been very powerful historically.

According to reports, officials from the U.S Trade Representative’s Office visited Dhaka between May 5 and 7, 2026, and discussed the implementation of the signed Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART). 

Both countries will also cooperate on intelligence-sharing, expanding the U.S. Navy’s reach across the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.

Additionally, the agreement finalised in February reduces the U.S tariff on certain Bangladeshi garment exports to 19 per cent.

A zero reciprocal tariff also exists for specific textiles and apparel produced in Bangladesh if they use US-produced cotton and man-made fibres.

This development is in line with the 15-year plan and includes increased imports of U.S defence equipment, agricultural goods, and chemicals.

This agreement will lead to a shift in the power balance in the region, earlier dominated by India and China and will likely have implications for Bangladesh as well, given that it has always maintained strong ties with China, especially in port infrastructure development and defence equipment procurement.

Around 70% of Bangladesh’s weapons come from China.

Former PM of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, had once claimed that the United States had pressured her to allow a U.S military base in the Bay of Bengal’s St Martin’s Island, alleging that her refusal cost her political power, though the U.S. rejected these claims as lies.

Hasina had said that the island was demanded in return for her remaining in office, adding that the move aimed to expand U.S influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

From a geopolitical point of view, the Bay of Bengal is important for India, given the country’s vast coastline and the ability to project power.

The region, for many decades, has steered away from naval confrontations or competition among global powers, but now with the U.S. entering the scene, the situation might change.

There are many Indian naval bases in the region, including a nuclear submarine base.