Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Partnerships, Interoperability and National Interests
This seminar examined defence diplomacy as a tool of Bangladesh’s foreign and security policy. Participants traced its evolution from peacekeeping contributions to broader engagements in training, joint exercises, and regional forums. The discussion highlighted defence diplomacy’s role in confidence-building, crisis management, and access to technology. It also addressed risks of overextension, dependency, and politicization. Case studies included Bangladesh’s role in UN peacekeeping, naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, and defence MOUs with major powers. The seminar concluded that defence diplomacy, if strategically aligned, can enhance Bangladesh’s security and global standing, but requires clarity of objectives, institutional coordination, and resource allocation.
