DHAKA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the United States and its allies, alleging that they are exerting pressure on South Asian nations under the guise of the so-called Indo-Pacific Strategy, solely to advance their own interests within the region.
Lavrov made these remarks during a joint press briefing with his Bangladeshi counterpart, AK Abdul Momen, in the capital city of Dhaka.
Lavrov’s visit to Dhaka marks a historic occasion, as he became the first Russian foreign minister to visit Bangladesh since the country gained independence in 1971. The visit was primarily focused on high-level discussions addressing bilateral issues.
During his statement, Lavrov expressed concerns about the objectives of the United States within the region, which he identified as containing China and isolating Russia. He emphasized that the Indo-Pacific Strategy is being employed as a means to pursue these goals. Furthermore, Lavrov characterized this approach as part of NATO’s broader expansionist agenda on the global stage.
However, despite the pressure exerted by the US, Lavrov commended Bangladesh for maintaining a balanced foreign policy and for its ability to navigate the evolving regional dynamics.
In response, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen described Bangladesh’s foreign policy as “balanced” and highlighted the nation’s commitment to pursuing its own interests independently. He emphasized Bangladesh’s preference for resolving issues through dialogue and discussion.
Regarding economic relations, Lavrov assured that trade ties between Russia and Bangladesh would continue to strengthen. He noted that trade between the two countries had already reached nearly $3 billion, making Bangladesh Russia’s second-largest partner in South Asia.
Challenges Pose by US Sanctions on Russia
Lavrov also addressed the challenges posed by US sanctions on Russia, which had disrupted the supply chain for Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant project. Russia is actively involved in assisting Bangladesh in the construction of its inaugural nuclear power plant in Rooppur, located approximately 160 kilometers northwest of Dhaka, with a substantial $12.65 billion investment. Russia is also financing up to 90 percent of the project’s total cost as credit. However, in December of the previous year, due to US sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, Bangladesh denied entry to a Russian vessel carrying equipment for the nuclear plant. Lavrov emphasized that Moscow is swiftly exploring alternative options to circumvent the impact of these sanctions while ensuring the uninterrupted progress of the nuclear power plant project.
On the issue of the Rohingya crisis, Lavrov criticized the role played by Western nations and expressed support for ongoing negotiations between Bangladesh and Myanmar through working groups. He stressed that external actors should limit their involvement to facilitating favorable conditions for finding an acceptable resolution to the crisis.
The Rohingya crisis has resulted in more than 1.2 million Rohingya Muslims being forcibly displaced from Myanmar, with many living in camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, and Bhasan Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal. Most of these refugees fled Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown in August 2017 in the Rakhine state.
