• Mou Mou
• 09 Feb, 2025

Bangladesh's Air Force chief Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan has started an official visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to enhance defence relations. His trip which began on February 9th includes meetings with top military officials and visits to key air force facilities.

Context

The visit aims to deepen Bangladesh’s defence ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE two key Gulf nations. Khan is set to meet Lt.Gen.Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz the head of the Royal Saudi Air Force to explore opportunities for joint exercises training programs and technology exchanges.

According to ISPR the public relations wing of Bangladesh Armed Forces, the visit will strengthen collaboration in defence and security matters. Lt. Col. Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury from ISPR stated that this trip would open doors for closer cooperation between the two nations in air defence strategies.

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia signed a military cooperation agreement in 2019 which laid the foundation for their ongoing defence collaborations. Khan’s visit is expected to build upon this agreement and explore new avenues of partnership. 

After concluding his visit to Saudi Arabia, Khan will travel to the UAE on February 14th. There he will meet Maj.Gen. Staff Pilot Ibrahim Nasser Mohamed Al-Alawi the head of the UAE Air Force to discuss strategic defence initiatives and potential joint projects.

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Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE hold significant importance for Bangladesh in terms of military and economic partnerships. The discussions during this visit are expected to lead to enhanced defence cooperation, training opportunities and resource-sharing between the air forces.

The Gulf visit by Bangladesh’s Air Force chief marks a significant step in strengthening defence diplomacy. With ongoing discussions and collaborations, Bangladesh aims to take its military cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the UAE to a higher level.