United States is interested in enhancing the capacity of Bangladesh Army and Navy to protect its maritime resources from pirates and terrorists, and to help during natural disasters, said a top US Navy commander yesterday.
Brushing aside much speculation about setting up of US naval base in the Bay of Bengal or Bangladesh, the visiting US 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Scott H Swift said, “I am not interested in establishing any permanent or temporary bases. We want to develop an understanding how to work together. It is all about our partnership.”
He was briefing a selected group of journalists in the capital's Hotel Radisson ahead of a joint exercise titled “Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)” of the US Navy and Bangladesh Navy. The exercise will begin in Chittagong today.
When asked who could be the maritime threat of Bangladesh apart from pirates and terrorists, the admiral said it cannot be predicted. But the Bangladesh Navy must be strong, able and always prepared to safeguard its maritime boundary.
Replying to another query, if the 7th fleet will be able to help Bangladesh if its maritime boundary is breached, the US admiral said the chief of Bangladesh Navy could inform him through the US Ambassador and there could be a discussion about what the Bangladesh Navy needed.
“The 7th fleet has the great capability and capacity to respond to any threat to any ally of the United States,” he added.