DHAKA, June 5, 2026 — Türkiye has expressed interest in expanding defense-industrial cooperation with Bangladesh, signaling a potentially significant new dimension in bilateral relations as Dhaka seeks to strengthen strategic partnerships amid shifting geopolitical dynamics across South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
The issue featured prominently during bilateral talks between Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on Friday. The two sides also discussed increasing trade, boosting investment, and elevating relations to what both ministers described as a strategic partnership.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, Fidan said Türkiye sees substantial opportunities for collaboration in defense manufacturing and related industries.
“We have opportunities to undertake joint initiatives for the development of the defense industries of both countries, and we have already discussed these matters,” Fidan said following the talks.
The discussions come as Türkiye has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing defense exporters, supplying drones, armored vehicles, naval platforms, and military electronics to countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Bangladesh, meanwhile, has been pursuing long-term military modernization and seeking to diversify defense partnerships beyond its traditional suppliers.
However, neither side announced specific procurement plans, investment commitments, technology-transfer arrangements, or joint production projects during Friday’s discussions.
The ministers also discussed raising annual bilateral trade from approximately $1.3 billion to $2 billion and explored the possibility of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and an interim Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh had invited Turkish investors to take advantage of incentives available in the country’s economic zones and proposed the establishment of a dedicated special economic zone for Turkish businesses.
“I have informed the Turkish foreign minister about incentives available to foreign investors in Bangladesh and invited prospective Turkish investors to invest in our private and special economic zones,” he said.
According to the Bangladeshi foreign minister, potential areas of cooperation include textiles, apparel, defense manufacturing, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure development, renewable energy, information technology, smart technologies, and civil aviation.
Bangladesh has also proposed that Türkiye establish an international-standard hospital and nursing institute in Dhaka, while requesting additional scholarship opportunities for Bangladeshi students. Approximately 3,000 Bangladeshi citizens currently reside in Türkiye, most of them students.
Security Significance
The defense component of the discussions carries broader strategic significance given Bangladesh’s location along the Bay of Bengal, a region that has become increasingly important in Indo-Pacific security calculations.
Over the past decade, Bangladesh has sought to maintain balanced relations with major powers while expanding engagement with emerging middle powers. Türkiye’s growing diplomatic and defense presence in Asia has attracted increasing attention as Ankara seeks to deepen its influence beyond its traditional regional sphere.
Although officials emphasized the prospects for cooperation, details regarding the nature and scope of future defense collaboration remain unclear. Neither government specified whether the discussions involved joint manufacturing facilities, military technology transfers, defense procurement, training programs, or broader security cooperation.
Fidan described Bangladesh as occupying a strategically important position in South Asia and praised the country’s role in addressing the Rohingya refugee crisis.
“Bangladesh has undertaken a historic responsibility by hosting more than one million Rohingya refugees,” he said, reaffirming Türkiye’s support for the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of the displaced population to Myanmar.
The Turkish foreign minister announced plans to visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, where he will inspect humanitarian projects operated by Turkish agencies, including TIKA, AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Diyanet Foundation, and a Turkish-run field hospital serving refugees.
Regional and Global Issues
The ministers also exchanged views on developments in the Middle East and broader international security issues.
Fidan welcomed progress in dialogue between Iran and the United States and stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as essential for global economic stability and energy security.
His remarks reflected growing international concerns over maritime security in key shipping corridors connecting the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and South Asia—routes that remain vital to Bangladesh’s trade and energy supplies.
The Turkish foreign minister also reiterated Ankara’s support for efforts to maintain regional stability and criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, arguing that ongoing violence was undermining prospects for a two-state solution.
Growing Political Alignment
Fidan’s visit follows Khalilur Rahman’s trip to Türkiye in March, where the Bangladeshi minister participated in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and held talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
The Turkish foreign minister described that visit, along with his current trip to Dhaka, as evidence of a shared commitment to deepening cooperation.
He also congratulated Bangladesh on Khalilur Rahman’s election as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, describing it as a significant diplomatic achievement for the country.
For his part, Khalilur Rahman said the visit came at an important moment in bilateral relations and reflected the two countries’ desire to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
“We emphasize that this visit comes at an important moment in Bangladesh-Türkiye relations and demonstrates our shared commitment to deepening cooperation and elevating our bilateral partnership to new heights,” he said.
While Friday’s talks underscored growing political warmth between Dhaka and Ankara, many of the initiatives discussed—including defense cooperation, expanded investment, and a possible free trade agreement—remain at the proposal stage.
The visit nevertheless highlighted Türkiye’s growing interest in South Asia and Bangladesh’s continuing effort to broaden its diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships amid an increasingly competitive regional environment.
