India on Edge as Bangladesh Expands Global Defence Ties

Reading Time: 4 minutes New Delhi is watching with growing unease as Dhaka accelerates its defence modernisation through a series of strategic partnerships spanning Asia and beyond. Over the past year, Bangladesh has moved decisively from conventional procurement to multi-vector defence diplomacy — forging deeper links with China, Türkiye, Pakistan, the United States, and Japan. Much of this activity has been documented and analysed by BDMilitary in a string of exclusive reports throughout 2025, revealing a clear strategic recalibration under the Forces Goal 2030 framework. Chinese Combat Aircraft and Strategic Balance The centrepiece of Bangladesh’s latest defence realignment is the planned acquisition of the Chengdu J-10CE multirole combat aircraft from China. According to local media and BDMilitary’s reporting, Dhaka aims to procure around 20 aircraft worth approximately $2.2 billion by 2027 — a deal that would significantly enhance the Bangladesh Air Force’s reach and combat capability. The J-10CEs, equipped with