When US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen publicly warned about the long-term risks of Chinese military and strategic entanglement, his remarks were not merely a routine diplomatic caution. They sounded more like an early alarm bell. Bangladesh, once viewed in Washington and New Delhi as a country that carefully balanced competing global interests, now appears to be edging toward a far deeper embrace of Beijing – with Pakistan quietly positioning itself as a facilitating partner in that transition.

At the center of this accelerating realignment stands Muhammad Yunus. Under his stewardship, Dhaka seems increasingly willing to recalibrate Bangladesh’s geopolitical orientation, even if that recalibration comes at the cost of long-term sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and regional equilibrium. The shift is gradual, but the direction is unmistakable.

Christensen’s concern is not theoretical, nor is it rooted in speculation. Since Yunus assumed effective control, Bangladesh has revived and expanded discussions on acquiring advanced Chinese military hardware, including fourth-generation fighter jets such as the J-10C. These negotiations are reportedly being conducted not only directly with Beijing but also through Sino-Pakistani joint-venture channels – an arrangement that further complicates Bangladesh’s strategic posture.

Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division, led by Principal Staff Officer Lieutenant General S.M. Kamrul Hasan, has been actively engaged in high-level defense talks with Chinese counterparts. Multiple delegations have visited China in recent months to explore modernization options for the Bangladesh Air Force, particularly the replacement of aging aircraft fleets that are nearing the end of their operational life. In parallel, Dhaka has intensified discussions with Pakistan over the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, a platform jointly developed by China and Pakistan and aggressively marketed by Islamabad as a “cost-effective” multirole........

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