By Prof Dr Sheikh Akram Ali
In international politics, geography cannot be changed, but diplomacy can shape a nation’s future. For a country such as Bangladesh, located at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia and surrounded by competing regional and global powers, foreign policy is not simply about choosing friends. It is about balancing relationships, protecting sovereignty and advancing national interests without becoming overly dependent on any single power.
Since the end of the Second World War, global diplomacy has largely been shaped by rivalry among major powers. During the Cold War, the world was divided between two ideological camps: the Western bloc led by the United States and the Eastern bloc led by the Soviet Union. Newly independent states often found themselves under pressure to align with one side or the other. For many developing countries, diplomatic choices were driven less by ideology than by economic needs, security concerns and geopolitical realities.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 fundamentally altered the international system. Although the Cold War ended, strategic competition did not. In recent years, China’s rapid economic and military rise has created a new era of great-power rivalry, with the United States and China competing for influence across Asia, Africa and beyond. Bangladesh now finds itself navigating this increasingly complex landscape.
Bangladesh’s foreign policy has evolved alongside these global shifts. Since independence in 1971, successive governments have pursued different external alignments while attempting to preserve the country’s strategic autonomy. Bangladesh’s relations with India have remained central because of geography, trade, water sharing and security. At the same time, ties with China have expanded significantly through infrastructure investment, defence cooperation and development financing. Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union remain indispensable economic partners, particularly as the largest markets for Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports.
Historical experience demonstrates the importance of maintaining flexibility in foreign affairs. Different governments have adopted varying approaches to managing external partnerships, reflecting both domestic political priorities and changing international circumstances. These shifts have often generated debate over whether Bangladesh should move closer to one strategic partner or maintain a carefully balanced foreign policy. Whatever the political differences, the country’s long-term interests are best served by avoiding unnecessary confrontation with any major power while preserving room for independent decision-making.
The strategic competition between Washington and Beijing has made this balancing act more difficult. The United States increasingly views the Indo-Pacific through the lens of strategic competition with China, leading to initiatives such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), which includes the United States, India, Japan and Australia. China, meanwhile, has expanded its influence through the Belt and Road Initiative, financing infrastructure and connectivity projects across Asia.
Bangladesh has sought to benefit from engagement with both sides. China has become one of the country’s largest development partners, supporting major infrastructure projects, including bridges, power plants and transport networks. Chinese interest in water management, the Teesta River project and the development of ports such as Chattogram and Mongla reflects Beijing’s broader regional strategy while offering Bangladesh opportunities for economic development.
Yet economic ties with China do not diminish the importance of relations with the United States and Europe. The United States remains one of Bangladesh’s largest export destinations, while the European Union collectively accounts for an even greater share of garment exports. Millions of Bangladeshi workers depend directly or indirectly on these markets. In addition, remittances from Bangladeshis living in North America and Europe make an important contribution to the national economy. Maintaining stable relations with Western partners is therefore essential for sustaining economic growth.
Relations with India require equally careful management. As Bangladesh’s largest neighbour, India occupies a unique position in the country’s foreign policy. Cooperation has expanded in energy, trade, transport and regional connectivity, but differences persist over issues such as water sharing, border management and trade imbalances. Managing these differences through dialogue rather than confrontation remains in the interests of both countries.
Questions surrounding regional connectivity are likely to become increasingly significant. Proposals involving transport corridors, transit routes and humanitarian access have generated considerable public debate because they carry implications for national sovereignty, regional security and economic integration. Such decisions require transparent policymaking, careful consultation and a clear assessment of Bangladesh’s long-term national interests rather than short-term geopolitical pressures.
For Bangladesh, diplomacy should not be viewed as a contest between East and West. Rather, it should be guided by a pragmatic assessment of where national interests lie. Strong economic relations with China can coexist with close partnerships with the United States, Europe and Japan. Constructive engagement with India does not preclude improved relations with Pakistan or deeper cooperation with other regional partners.
The principles underpinning Bangladesh’s foreign policy since independence remain relevant today: friendship with all and malice toward none. In an increasingly polarised international environment, this approach offers the country the greatest strategic flexibility. Rather than becoming a proxy in great-power competition, Bangladesh should continue pursuing a balanced foreign policy that attracts investment from multiple partners, expands export opportunities, strengthens regional cooperation and protects national sovereignty.
(The writer is an academic and political commentator in Bangladesh and can be reached at news@metro-morning.com)
