Bangladesh–US Defence Dialogue Gains New Momentum as Dhaka Pursues American Hardware

Reading Time: 3 minutes Bangladesh is hosting the 12th Bangladesh–US Bilateral Defence Dialogue from 10–11 December, with senior military officials from both countries convening in Dhaka to discuss strategic cooperation, regional security, and defence modernisation. A seven-member delegation from the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) arrived in the capital ahead of the dialogue to participate in high-level meetings under the supervision of Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division (AFD). The US delegation is led by Brigadier Sarah Russ, INDOPACOM’s Mobilisation Assistant to the Director, Strategic Planning and Policy. Among the team is Michael Clinton Pettigrew, a senior regional expert on South Asia with nearly three decades of experience in implementing US strategic military policy and operations. Other members include Commander Noelle Kitenko, Lieutenant Colonel Erin Ball, Major Chelse Esenwein, Crystal Rodrigues, Major Rob Greene, and Talal Babar. The Bangladesh side is led by Brigadier Alimul Amin, Director General of Operations and Plan Directorate,