BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

CONTEMPORARY GEOPOLITICAL COMPETITIONS IN THE BAY OF BENGAL REGION: IN SEARCH OF GREATER STRATEGIC AUTONOMY FOR BANGLADESH

Author: Mohammad Aynul Islam, Rubel Molla

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2024v45n1a2

ABSTRACT

The idea of strategic autonomy has received greater attention among scholars of politics and international relations in recent times amid the shift of epicentre of global power politics to Asia and growing geopolitical competition in the Asian region. The paper aims to discuss the concept of strategic autonomy and relevant debates as well as contextualise the concept while considering Bangladesh’s geostrategic challenges and potentials in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) region. The BoB, being situated at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region, has become a hub of communication and connectivity. It has become a crucial route for trading ventures across Asia and beyond. Hence, the strategic interests of the regional and extra-regional powers have made the region a locus of competition. Bangladesh, being an emerging economy and a key littoral of the BoB, is facing dilemmas in projecting its national priorities amid the growing competition in this region. Therefore, maintaining a delicate balance and equidistance with all the powers and upholding national interests have become a challenge for Bangladesh. The paper argues that attaining greater strategic autonomy could be instrumental for Bangladesh to project its national interests in regional and global affairs, and would help to navigate the challenges emerging from the geopolitical competitions in this region. The paper has divided the position of Bangladesh into three broad angles—strengths, both strengths and limitations simultaneously, and challenges or limitations. It has also analysed various aspects of those angles. The paper also suggests some policy options to find solutions to the limitations and act towards attaining greater strategic autonomy for Bangladesh.