IMPLICATIONS OF THE JAPAN-BANGLADESH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AMID INDO-PACIFIC GEOPOLITICS

On April 26th Bangladesh and Japan signed a strategic partnership agreement during Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Japan visit. 

- Aziz Patwary

This is the latest strategic partnership agreement of Bangladesh. Through this, Japan becomes the 2nd Strategic partner in East Asia after China. The partnership is likely to bring significant implications for the bilateral relations. The wordings in the joint statement suggest that the partnership is also likely to bring new implications for Indo-Pacific geopolitics.

Joint Statement

The 11-page-long joint statement is signed by both Prime Ministers. The statement is divided into three thematic parts and has 30 points in it. In the beginning, the statement acknowledges the Comprehensive Partnership agreement between Bangladesh and Japan inked in 2014. The preamble also focused on historic and 'time-tested' friendship among the nations since the independence of Bangladesh. The preamble also celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The statement explains the Partnership Agreement and the following 30 points as guiding principles for the next 50 years and beyond.

Geopolitical Implications

In part 1- Cooperation for Peace and Stability in the Region and Beyond, Bangladesh reaffirmed its commitment towards a free and open Indo-pacific based on the rule of law, freedom, and sovereignty. Interestingly, in Both Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific Outlook (IPO)- announced recently, and in the Joint Statement, Bangladesh incorporated Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).

Bangladesh's reaffirming concepts such as the rule of law, freedom, openness, and inclusion suggest that it also adheres to existing liberal values and norms of the Westphalian international order. These liberal values are also coherent with Bangladesh's IPO.