Dhaka Plans Strategic Troop Mission in Saudi Arabia Amid U.S. Drawdown

Reading Time: < 1 minute A planned high-level visit to Saudi Arabia by senior Bangladesh Army officials was intended to discuss the possible deployment of Bangladeshi troops for a comprehensive security role within the Kingdom — covering protection of key installations, logistical coordination, and engineering support for the Royal Saudi Land Forces. The proposal follows reports that around 7,000 U.S. troops, currently stationed at a sensitive Saudi facility, are expected to withdraw in the coming months. Dhaka views this as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation with Riyadh while expanding Bangladesh’s footprint in Middle Eastern security affairs. Unlike typical overseas security assignments, the prospective deployment would involve a multifaceted mission, encompassing security operations, logistics, engineering, and support functions under a bilateral framework with the Saudi Ministry of Defence. Such an arrangement would mark a new milestone in Bangladesh’s evolving defence diplomacy — extending its operational reach beyond UN peacekeeping