After China and Pakistan, Bangladesh deepens ties with another enemy of India, who helped PM Shehbaz Sharif during Operation Sindoor, now is planning to…

After Pakistan and China, Bangladesh has rolled out the red carpet for yet another adversary of India–Turkey. Turkey has committed to investing in Bangladesh’s national defense sector and advancing the arms manufacturing capacity in Bangladesh’s defense industry. If this agreement materializes, it will further augment India’s strategic challenges in its neighborhood.

It is to be noted that Turkey is an openly declared ally of Pakistan. Turkey not only supplied weapons to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor but also deployed its military operators. During that time, Turkey has rallied behind Pakistan despite its support to cross-border terrorism against India and its aggression after the Indian Armed Forces struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Several Indians even started boycotting Turkish products. In addition, Turkey also supports Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

Turkey’s defense industry head, Haluk Gorgun met with Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, as well as senior military leaders on Tuesday, which can be interpreted as a senior-level commitment to strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries. The visit exemplifies Ankara’s deepening engagement with Dhaka as the latter seeks to diversify its defense partnerships.

“Haluk Gorgun, Secretary of Turkey’s Defence Industries, arrived in Dhaka on a regular Turkish Air flight early in the morning,” a senior Bangladeshi official was quoted as saying by news agency Times of India. “Earlier, top Bangladeshi military officials visited Turkey. This is the return visit. Various issues including technology transfer will be discussed,” he further added.

Turkey’s expanding presence in Bangladesh will mix three of India’s rivals in the region. Up to now, India has been worried about increasing interference by Pakistan and China in Bangladesh but adding Turkey to that list will increase India’s strategic concerns. Further, Turkey will also produce weapons for the Bangladeshi military, increasing Bangladesh’s military capacity. Bangladesh is politically unstable, and this could have ramifications for the security of India’s bordering states.

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