No US-Indo-Bangla axis against China: Mozena
US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan Mozena yesterday ruled out floating of any US-India-Bangladesh axis in the region against China.
“There is no axis with anybody, against anybody,” he said, while replying to a question whether the US is going to float any sort of the three-nation axis following increased presence of China in the region.
He made it clear that China is not the enemy of the United States.
Mozena was talking to a select group of journalists on the recently concluded first-ever US-Bangladesh dialogue on security issues.
The US envoy appreciated Chinese engagement with Bangladesh and said Bangladesh can be a link between South Asia and South East Asia. Bangladesh can also link India's engagement with Burma, he added.
Replying to another question about setting up of nuclear power plant in Bangladesh with Russian assistance, Mozena said many countries, including the USA, are using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and that is fully legitimate.
He mentioned that there are certain rules like safety measures before use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
On the security dialogue, he said Bangladesh is important to US as it's a moderate, tolerant and democratic country and it has made very impressive progress in countering terrorism.
He said both the sides at the dialogue had extensive discussion on bilateral, regional and global security cooperation as well as humanitarian assistance during natural disasters.
They also discussed military to military cooperation regarding training, joint exercises, military equipment and capacity building of Bangladesh's military.
“We have on going cooperation with the navy and the coast guard so that they can more efficiently protect the huge maritime and sea resources of Bangladesh,” said Mozena.
US Embassy Political Officer Enrique Rodrigo Gallego and Press and Information Officer Patricia A Hill were present on the occasion.
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