US envoy inspects Bangladesh-US Joint Air Force Exercise

The US Charge d’Affaires in Bangladesh, Tracy Ann Jacobson, visited Bangladesh Air Force Base Zahurul Haque in Chattogram on Tuesday, September 16, to observe the ongoing bilateral military exercise “Operation Pacific Angel 25-3”.

The operation is a seven-day initiative designed to strengthen defence cooperation, interoperability, and humanitarian response capabilities between Bangladesh and the United States.

According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Jacobson toured multiple segments of the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) activities, with particular focus on Maritime Search & Rescue, Flood Response Operations, and Crew Resource Management, critical skills for disaster-prone regions like Bangladesh.

During her visit, Jacobson engaged with personnel from both air forces, commending their “professionalism, precision, and seamless collaboration.” She emphasized the growing strategic partnership between the two nations, particularly in enhancing regional security and humanitarian readiness.

The delegation accompanying Jacobson included senior officials from the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, representatives from the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), and senior officers from BAF Base Zahurul Haque.

Exercise highlights

The joint exercise features a combined fleet of aircraft including one C-130J transport aircraft and one MI-17 helicopter from the Bangladesh Air Force, alongside two C-130J transport aircraft from the US Pacific Air Forces, with a total of 242 personnel, 150 from the Bangladesh Air Force and 92 from the USAir Force, participating in the drills, which began on September 12 and will run through September 18, 2024. 

“Operation Pacific Angel” is part of a broader US Indo-Pacific Command initiative to build partner capacity in medical, engineering, and humanitarian assistance with Bangladesh emerging as a key regional ally in disaster response and security cooperation.