The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald has arrived in Chattogram for a three-day goodwill tour, signalling Washington’s intent to strengthen maritime cooperation with Bangladesh at a time of heightened strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
The vessel was received by the Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Abu Ubaidah as it entered the Chattogram naval area on Wednesday, October 8.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), naval officers from both sides exchanged greetings and goodwill messages upon arrival.
The visit, the ISPR said, will provide an opportunity for sailors and officers from the two navies to exchange operational experience, technical expertise and professional skills.
It is also expected to deepen mutual understanding and bolster long-standing defence cooperation between Dhaka and Washington.
Bangladesh, situated on the Bay of Bengal and commanding vital sea lanes linking South and Southeast Asia, has seen a steady increase in military-to-military engagements with the United States over the past decade.
The two countries regularly participate in joint exercises, training programmes and humanitarian assistance operations under the US Indo-Pacific strategy.
For Bangladesh, such visits offer opportunities to enhance interoperability and gain exposure to modern naval technology while maintaining its stated policy of “friendship to all, malice towards none.”
The ISPR noted that the visit would serve as “an effective platform” for advancing professional excellence and fostering goodwill between the two forces. Representatives from the US Embassy in Dhaka were also present during the ship’s arrival.
A US Navy vessel last visited Bangladesh in 2022. Following its current port call, the USS Fitzgerald is scheduled to depart Bangladeshi waters on October 10.