India Bangladesh Defence pact: The Indian lions and Bangladesh tigers are two sub-continent giants that are showing blossoming prospects with respect to economic growth. The two nations are heading towards challenging the Chinese hegemony over production. Consequently, the Chinese had been eying to sabotage the growth prospects of sub-continent nations, by luring them with imperialistic promises under the guise of futuristic dream projects like “Shared Development: Theory and Practice from the Perspective of the Blue Economy.”
On the contrary, the sub-continent nations are also aligning against the imperialistic visions of China. So to say, the developing South Asian nations have over a period of time acknowledged the fact that China is not a trustworthy partner and the only plausible option for the region vests in India. As a consequence, the regional politics of Asia is getting polarized between India and China.
Therefore, with China been seen with a serious skepticism, India is been looked at with a great deal of optimism by the world. Consequently, the defense exports of India have witnessed an upsurge as it reached the highest level during 2021-22, crossing 13,000 crore mark with the private sector accounting for 70% of exports.
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India Bangladesh first defense pact
Recently, India and Bangladesh have entered into their first defence pact under the $500 million line of credit (Loc), which was extended by India amid growing dissatisfaction in the Bangladesh armed forces over the quality of Chinese defense hardware in their armory.
Through India Bangladesh defence pact, India and Bangladesh are looking forward to developing new strategic military partnership with India eyeing Bangladesh as a market for a range of military hardware. The defense pacts aims at extending cooperation through the trade of specialist military vehicles, helicopters, and maintenance of Russian-origin equipment following the operationalisation of a $500-million line of credit for defense purchases.
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As per reports, Bangladesh has expressed interest over Tata and Mahindra specialty cars, Tejas combat planes, and Dhruv light helicopters amongst other Indian produced defense equipments and hardware. Furthermore, the two Indian companies have extended support by providing the Bangladesh Army with several vehicles to try out over a long period of time in various environments and climates, to test the veracity of superior Indian defense equipments.
In addition, India and Bangladesh are also exploring the prospect of India’s role in maintaining Russian-origin equipment, especially aircraft such as the Mi-17-1V helicopter, Antonov An-32 transport aircraft and MiG-29 jets for the Bangladesh Army as India also operates these aircraft and has long-established facilities for their maintenance. The deal is seen as an extension of the previous deal of India and Bangladesh, whereby the latter procured protective gear such as bulletproof jackets and helmets from India.
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Indian target to enhance defence exports to $5 billion by 2025
India is transforming its manufacturing landscape in the defense sector, with futuristic targets of growing defense export market to $5 billion by 2025. The aim is to boost indigenous defense manufacturing, and develop significant defense partnership with fellow nations.
The vision can be seen as a move to further the indigenous domestic industry, which received the first order in November 2022 as the Indian defense company Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited won the bid to supply artillery guns to a friendly foreign nation for $155.5 million. In addition, the order was followed up by the Philippines ordering BrahMos missiles and Armenia buying Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers from India.
India’s initiatives in the defense sector also coincide with China’s aspirations to expand its role as a supplier of defense hardware, including combat aircraft, battleships, and radars. In this regard, the individuals observed that India has been pressuring Bangladesh to carry out an agreement signed in 2019 for the provision of a coastal radar system for marine security.
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Indian move to tackle the Chinese presence in the Bay of Bengal
The move between India and Bangladesh can be seen as a significant defense calibration to have naval training, bilateral exercises with the two navies. Further, the defense pact extends to coordinated patrol along the International Maritime Boundary Line, with growing Chinese interference in the region.
Thus, through the Defence pact between India and Bangladesh, the two subcontinent nation seeks to reduce Chinese inference in the sub-continent. India on the other hand, aims to kick out China from the Bay of Bengal by ensuring the Chinese are out of the defense engagements in Bangladesh.
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