New Delhi, May 20 -- When Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on February 17, 2026, US President Donald Trump congratulated him and suggested a US-Bangladesh defence arrangement. The US had been eyeing Bangladesh's Saint Martin Island as a NATO military base.

The US and Bangladesh are presently finalizing two foundational defence agreements, ACSA (Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement) and GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement), giving the US logistical port access in the Bay of Bengal and ports in Bangladesh.

Key deep-sea hubs under this agreement include Chittagong and Matarbari. Economic incentives tied to these pacts include 19% tariff concession on textiles and a reciprocal trade agr...