US 7th fleet base in Bangladesh?

[Ray]

Surely you appreciate the amusement implicit in the claim that the 7th fleet is retreating from Afghanistan. One wonders how it got there in the first place.

That is right. It does not make sense.

However, what was meant is understood by the Indian viewer since it was a flow from what was discussed.

It is obvious that Indians know that Afghanistan does not have any sea or ocean bordering her land expanse! There has been close relations with Afghanistan historically and most people are aware that it is a landlocked country.

Obvious to you and me, perhaps, but the video you cited referred specifically to the US "parking its 7th fleet in a base in Chittagong". You can fool some people sometimes...

The Indian public is totally ignorant about matters military unlike western nations; even the Ministers and politicians have very little idea about the nitty gritties of military weaponry or organisation. Therefore, the finer details would go over the head of the viewers.

On the other hand they are aware that the 7th Fleet is something ominous, it being something naval sent by Nixon during the Liberation of Bangladesh by India and which was something that worried all!

No one is fooling no one. It is only to explain to those who cannot understand a platoon from a Corps; people of the ilk of Sarah Palin who sees Russia from her window.

In India, wars and the military is not of paramount interest. It exists and it does its work is all what concerns the average Indian. If Indians had the aggressive bent of mind, India would not be in dialogue with Pakistan given the terror strikes and Pak sponsored terrorism around the parts of India.

Possibly, yes... if anything is stationed there at all. Since the whole report cites no sources and appears to rest on little more than SecState's visit to Bangladesh, the whole prospect appears to be rather speculative. We shall wait and see.

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Ms Clinton had stated that Bangladesh had a role to play in the Bay of Bengal and that is the start of the speculation. Even the US spokeswoman was ambivalent when asked during the Press Briefing.

Some excerpts from this region to include Bangladesh.

However by referring to Bangladesh as “a key player in maintaining security in the Bay of Bengal,
http://www.gatewayhouse.in/publicati...2%80%99-moment

It is a known fact that Bangladesh does not even have a brown water navy, let alone any pretensions to a Blue Water Navy. Given in the context of the Joint Declaration to include building of ports and security issues, one and one adds upto two as far as the media is concerned. And no Govt spokesman has denied it so far.

There must have been some unofficial indication or else why is there so much of speculation around this part of the world to include Bangladeshi commentators?

Bay of Bengal apparently is the focus of US interests in Bangladesh, for strategic and other reasons. There is that interest to secure the Bay of Bengal for US companies like ConocoPhilips and others who have already managed to get a number of blocks in the bay. Other than that, the US has been interested in getting a foothold in the bay as it has not been thrilled with China's growing presence in the India Ocean, regional analysts feel. China has been neatly threading together its "String of Pearls", with ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and beyond, and Bangladesh has been the missing pearl. The US wants to keep it that way, to all appearances. This is one pearl they don't plan to let China have.http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/BdOsint/message/8122

it seems to me US is trying to prop up a Bangladesh that could be used to play against both India and China. But on May 21, in a discussion organized by a local think-tank, Ambassador Mozena clarified the nature of this strategic partnership. He stressed that it was not intended to contain China. Then what is its very purpose?—- the question eventually comes to one’s mind.

In this context, if one raises eye brows on American desire to see Bangladesh playing a bigger role in the Bay of Bengal, we could not blame him much. Analyst Dr. Subhash Kapila correctly questions U.S.’s intention in this part of the world:

However, what is definitely intriguing is the American emphasis on Bangladesh’s role in the maritime security of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. One would have thought that the United States under its Strategic Partnership understandings with India would have acceded that role to India as the dominant naval power in the region. What maritime role for Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal is the United States envisaging?http://rezaulhoque.wordpress.com/tag/hillary-clinton/

Have any think tanks commented on the prospects for a US military base in Bangladesh? All I see is a single news report with some glaring factual issues and a singular lack of source references. An assessment from a credible think tank would be of more value.

Here is one:

BANGLADESH: AMERICA’S NEW STRATEGIC CYNOSURE IN SOUTH ASIA

However, what is definitely intriguing is the American emphasis on Bangladesh’s role in the maritime security of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. One would have thought that the United States under its Strategic Partnership understandings with India would have acceded that role to India as the dominant naval power in the region. What maritime role for Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal is the United States envisaging?http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5C...paper5036.html

One surely does. However, the specific reference was that the US is allegedly "“Worried by increasing presence of Chinese naval bases in the south china seas”. I simply wondered what bases were being referred to.

I mentioned China being interesting in building a port in Bangaldesh and the String of Pearls strategy.

Nowhere have I mentioned bases in the SCS.

How much dominance do you get with 2 Littoral Combat Ships? Not much, really, the Singaporean Navy carries more firepower than that. The scale of the deployment suggests that it's more about showing the flag than about dominance.

Showing the flag with 2 LCS to just show the flag? Whatever for?

To give an Army example in a Forward Company Defended Locality there are OPs and LPs. The whole Company does not have a 24 x 7 Stand to.

When the time come from push to shove, obviously there will be those roaming the sea in the Pacific who will congregate.

If you get breathless and excited over every unsubstantiated rumor of a US deployment, you'd have little opportunity to breathe. I'd wait for a bit more confirmation before hyperventilating.

If one is blissfully unaware of events that happen around these parts and around the world, then of course, one can remain in the benign and serene Lotus pose of the Buddha.

Breathing comes natural to us.