The Maritime Dimension of Foreign Policy Choices of Bangladesh: Securing National Interests Amidst Geopolitical Conundrum

Nur Ahmed

The Maritime Dimension of Foreign Policy Choices of Bangladesh: Securing National Interests Amidst Geopolitical Conundrum

Nur Ahmed
Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development
snahmed184@gmail.com

Keywords: Maritime, Domain, Foreign, Policy, Indo-Pacific, Region,

Abstract

The Bay of Bengal, or broadly defining, the Indian Ocean region, has become a major hotspot for geopolitical tussles among major powers. Like other littoral states, Bangladesh also faces enormous external pressures to shape its critical foreign policy choices. This paper aims to surface the maritime dimension of these choices and to provide a comprehensive analysis of those choices. It analyses the choices through the Neoclassical Realist framework and hence, takes both the domestic and external variables into consideration. The paper argues that Bangladesh has been articulating national interests based on the required variables for its economic development and this principle has been guiding its foreign policies in the maritime domain. Based on the current trajectories, the study also provides a brief outline of the future challenges for Bangladesh.

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