Published: 12:33 AM, 07 June 2026
Why Turkey Wants to Deepen Military Ties With Bangladesh
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's visit to Dhaka and his remarks about expanding cooperation with Bangladesh in the defense industry have sparked discussions in various circles.
Following a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon on Saturday afternoon, Bangladesh and Turkey decided to establish a joint committee at the foreign and defense ministerial levels.
Diplomatic and military analysts believe that cooperation in the military and defense industries could create opportunities for establishing factories in Bangladesh to produce military equipment, particularly drones, tanks, and various electronic warfare systems.
Bangladesh had already signed an agreement several years ago with a Turkish drone manufacturing company to procure drones.
On the final day of his three-day visit to Bangladesh, Mr. Fidan met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday. Although military and defense industry cooperation has been a major topic of discussion during his visit, the signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) does not specifically mention such cooperation. One MoU was signed concerning collaboration in the preservation of cultural heritage.
However, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman stated that there had been positive discussions regarding the possibility of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries.
During the joint press conference with Khalilur Rahman, the Turkish foreign minister referred to defense industry cooperation as a means of achieving the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion.
It is worth noting that Turkey was the world's third-largest arms importer in 1999, but by 2018 it had become the world's 14th-largest arms exporter. The country now aims to become one of the top ten arms-exporting nations.
At the official press conference in Dhaka, no details were provided regarding the specific areas of potential military cooperation.
Bangladesh has also proposed establishing a special economic zone for Turkey. In addition, Turkey has been invited to help establish or upgrade an international-standard hospital and nursing institute in Dhaka, according to the foreign minister.
However, during Saturday's meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, the two countries agreed to form a joint committee at the foreign and defense ministerial levels. They also decided to hold annual "2+2" consultations involving the foreign and defense ministers of both countries.
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka say that Turkish cooperation in Bangladesh's defense industry has been under discussion for several years.
In line with those discussions, Bangladesh's armed forces signed a drone procurement agreement with a Turkish company in 2022. As a result, military cooperation received particular attention during the Turkish foreign minister's visit.
Over the past decade, Turkish-made drones have gained global recognition due to their performance in various conflicts. At the same time, Turkey's advances in electronic warfare systems have provided Bangladesh with an opportunity to diversify its sources of defense procurement.
Against this backdrop, diplomatic sources suggest that discussions are taking place behind the scenes regarding joint production and technology transfer of drones, rocket systems, and other electronic warfare equipment.
Former ambassador Humayun Kabir told BBC Bangla: "While Bangladesh wants to reduce its dependence on the Chinese arms market, American and European weapons are expensive. In that context, the initiative to increase military cooperation with Turkey is a positive development."
Military analyst and retired Major Emdadul Islam said that Turkey's capabilities in drones and tanks have now been proven, and that the country has achieved significant success in producing military equipment that offers high capability at relatively low cost.
"China and Pakistan jointly manufacture fighter aircraft in Pakistan and sell them to various countries. Turkey could similarly come forward to jointly produce military equipment in Bangladesh. I believe the governments of both countries are advancing discussions in that direction. However, it is difficult to be certain until there is an official announcement."
Previously, Bangladesh procured mine-resistant military vehicles and multiple-launch rocket defense systems from Turkey. During the tenure of the previous Awami League government, Bangladesh also purchased ground surveillance radars, armored vehicles, portable jammers, missile-launching systems, Skyguard radar systems, and other military equipment from Turkey.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Bangladesh now wants Turkey to manufacture drones and certain other military equipment within Bangladesh itself. There appears to be little political opposition to such cooperation from either country's leadership.
Humayun Kabir commented: "Turkey is a good alternative for Bangladesh in diversifying its sources of military procurement. Turkey has consistently supported Bangladesh on issues such as the Rohingya crisis. Therefore, a defense industry partnership between the two countries-including modernization of military factories in Gazipur and enhancement of Bangladesh's military capabilities-would not be a bad idea."
It is understood that Turkey also wants to expand training opportunities for Bangladeshi military officers in Turkey. Turkish officials believe this would help Bangladesh develop expertise in the use of electronic warfare systems and modern battlefield management.
Bangladesh, however, is placing particular emphasis on technology transfer. The country's political and military leadership believes that Turkish technology transfer and training would significantly contribute to enhancing Bangladesh's long-term military capabilities.
Retired Major Emdadul Islam said: "Enhancing military capability is important. It is also essential for maintaining Bangladesh's position in UN peacekeeping missions. As conflicts and war-torn regions continue to emerge, military proficiency is becoming increasingly necessary. In this regard, Turkish technology and equipment support would be beneficial for Bangladesh."
Former ambassador Humayun Kabir added: "Considering the wars in Ukraine and Iran, it is clear that military capability enhancement must be prioritized. I believe this is why the government has become more active in deepening relations with Turkey."
>>BBC
