Bangladesh, a country at the head of the Bay of Bengal, has emerged as a major geopolitical issue for the United States and China, both seeking to limit mutual gains and secure their own progress in the country.
However, in the end it was India that benefited the mostthanks to its ability to skilfully play these two forces against each other, while using other key players such as Japan and Russia to strengthen its own geopolitical grip on Bangladesh.
Since its establishment in 1971, India to bring Bangladesh under its influenceespecially when the country is ruled by the party Awami League, ruled for 15 years. However, China’s entry into the country, especially through its “Silk Road” initiative, worried India, which then sought to counter China’s advances using the United States, Japan and China.
By letting the United States and Russia compete for influence in Bangladesh, India can draw on investment and resources from these countries to counter China’s advances.. For example, India has used its relationship with Japan, which has its own problems with China, to counter China’s advances in Bangladesh’s infrastructure, while securing its own interests in the process.
India is also using its influence in the energy sector to strengthen its geopolitical presence in Bangladesh.. Government Awami League taking initiatives to address the country’s chronic energy shortage, including building a nuclear power plant with a Russian company, Pulpitunder a $12 billion contract, 90% funded by Russia.
Even though this is a bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Russia, India has gained unprecedented access to this project to oversee the technical details, enabling India to closely monitor any future nuclear development in Bangladesh that could threaten its control over the country.
In addition, India is now facilitating the transfer of materials for Russia’s nuclear power plants by overland route to Bangladesh, allowing India to portray itself as the defender of its neighbor against Western colonial hegemony.
That’s clear Bangladesh has become an instrument of India’s geopolitical interests, which skillfully uses competition between the United States, China, Japan and Russia to strengthen its own grip on the country.. However, it is important to note that this comes at the expense of the real welfare and interests of Bangladesh, which can become a mere pawn in the power play of foreign powers.
