Washington, Feb 12, 2026 — The upcoming elections in Bangladesh and Nepal following mass uprisings have created a significant opportunity for renewed US engagement in South Asia, US Congressman Bill Huizenga said on Wednesday during a congressional hearing on American foreign policy in the region.
Huizenga, who chairs the House Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, noted that both countries are undergoing major political transitions. Bangladesh is holding its first national election on Thursday since the 2024 mass uprising, while Nepal is preparing for democratic elections next month after a youth-led movement in September 2025 led to the fall of an authoritarian government.
“These developments offer a new chapter for US engagement in South Asia,” said the Michigan Republican, adding that how Washington responds now will help define its relationships with the region’s emerging governments.
Describing South and Central Asia as a dynamic region, Huizenga highlighted its growing youth population, which he said is more inclined toward Western values and culture than toward China’s “authoritarian alternative.” The region is home to nearly two billion people and plays a critical role in shaping the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific due to its strategic waterways and expanding economies.
During the hearing, Huizenga praised President Donald Trump’s leadership, stating that recent trade agreements have opened markets and advanced US economic interests. “How we engage now will define America’s role in Asia for the next several decades,” he said.
Addressing China’s role in the region,
Huizenga accused Beijing of using “predatory lending” practices to trap smaller nations in debt and expanding military infrastructure along its borders with India, Nepal, and Bhutan. He stressed that maintaining a free and open Indian Ocean remains a top priority for US national and economic security.
Calling the Indian Ocean one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, Huizenga said more than 80 percent of global seaborne oil shipments pass through it. Strengthening naval cooperation with allies and partners, he argued, would help counter China’s influence and ensure the uninterrupted flow of global trade.
He also underscored the strategic importance of the US naval base on Diego Garcia island, saying that maintaining American military presence in the region would deter coercion and safeguard international commerce.
Huizenga described India as a key strategic partner and noted that President Trump recently signed a historic trade agreement with New Delhi. He added that the United States has also concluded a trade deal with Bangladesh. Under the US-India agreement, tariff rates were set at 18 percent—among the lowest in the region—and India agreed to increase imports of US energy products.
