Recent data indicates a surge in interest from global and regional powers seeking defence engagements with Bangladesh. Currently, 27 defence-related Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are pending with 10 countries, including major players like India, China, Russia, and the US. Despite Bangladesh's inception in 1971, it has signed only 19 defence MoUs with these countries.

Addressing a seminar on defence diplomacy, ASM Tarek Hassan Semul, a Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), noted this growing interest as a testament to the desire for defence cooperation with Bangladesh. Notably, Bangladesh has signed significant MoUs with countries like India and Turkey, while numerous others are in the pipeline.

Since 2010, Bangladesh has expanded its military and security dialogue through multilateral exercises, including joint ventures with countries like Australia, India, the UK, and the US. Additionally, there has been diversification in defence purchases since 2018, with significant acquisitions from Turkey, China, and other countries, aimed at enhancing defence capabilities, particularly for UN peacekeeping missions.

Despite garnering interest from major global partners, concerns persist regarding maintaining a balance between these powers, ensuring strategic autonomy amidst global polarization, and addressing potential regional conflicts, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Securing maritime space is also a priority, given Bangladesh's interest in harnessing its blue economy and the presence of oil and gas reserves in its waters.