[🇧🇩] Official Security Assistance (OSA) and Defense Cooperation Between Bangladesh and Japan

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Signing and Exchange of Notes for Official Security Assistance (OSA) to the People's Republic of Bangladesh
On November 15, in Dhaka, H.E. Mr. IWAMA Kiminori, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the People's Republic of Bangladesh and Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, SGP, psc, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, Prime Minister's Office of the People's Republic of Bangladesh signed and exchanged notes for 575 million yen in "Official Security Assistance (OSA)" grant aid.

OSA was established in 2023 as a new cooperation framework for the benefit of armed forces and other related organizations of recipient countries with the aim of deepening our security cooperation with the countries, creating a desirable security environment, and contributing to maintaining and strengthening international peace and security, by enhancing their security and deterrence capabilities through the provision of equipment and supplies as well as assistance for the development of infrastructure.

Bangladesh, as a "Strategic Partner" of Japan, is located in front of the Bay of Bengal which is one of important sea lanes for Japan. It is getting more and more important to improve capabilities for monitoring and surveillance, and disaster relief of Bangladesh Navy, which implements such operations and other related activities in the Bay of Bengal.

This programme enables to provide patrol boats to Bangladeshi Navy which is expected to strengthen its capabilities for monitoring and surveillance, and disaster relief and to contribute to maintenance and enhancement of maritime security not only in the Bay of Bengal but also a whole Indo-Pacific region.​

 

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Japan includes Bangladesh in OSA to enhance defence cooperation

Japan includes Bangladesh to OSA to enhance defence cooperation Japanese ambassador in Dhaka Iwama Kiminori has said Japan has included Bangladesh with Official Security Assistance (OSA) project to enchance defene cooperation

en.prothomalo.com

Japan includes Bangladesh in OSA to enhance defence cooperation
Diplomatic CorrespondentDhaka
Updated: 26 Aug 2023, 22: 42

State minister for foreign affairs Shahariar Alam (Left) and Japanese ambassador in Dhaka Iwama Kiminori (2nd from the left) at a roundtable styled 'Materialising Japan-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership: Diplomatic, Economic and People-to-People Relations at the Multipurpose Hall of the Japan embassy in Dhaka on Saturday.Courtesy: Japanese embassy

Japanese ambassador in Dhaka Iwama Kiminori said Japan has included Bangladesh in the Official Security Assistance (OSA) project to enhance defence cooperation.

Bangladesh is one of four countries which have been included in this new programme in the first year.

He disclosed this while speaking as a special guest at the concluding session of a roundtable at the Multipurpose Hall of the Japan embassy in Dhaka on Saturday.


The Pan-Asia Research Institute (PARI), a Japan-based multi-modal Asia and Pacific-focused think tank which was launched today, organised the roundtable discussion styled 'Materialising Japan-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership: Diplomatic, Economic and People-to-People Relations".

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina visited Japan in April this year. After the meeting with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida, the relations between the two countries reached a strategic level.

The issue of including Bangladesh in the OSA was mentioned in the declaration of joint statement following the meeting.

The Japanese ambassador Iwama Kiminori said Bangladesh has been included in the OSA to strengthen defence cooperation with the defence force and related organisations.

The Japanese ambassador said Bangladesh has been included in the OSA to strengthen cooperation with the defence force and related organisations. Positive discussions have recently been held on the enhancement of defence cooperation especially on exchange of armour and technology.

He said a joint study group was formed in December last year to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).Meanwhile, discussions have been held twice. The study group launched the EPA soon after completing the round phase discussion.

The Japanese ambassador said sending of Japanese volunteers to Bangladesh will begin at the end of this year.

Speaking as the chief guest, state minister Shahriar Alam said Bengali justice Radha Binod Paul, a resident of Kushtia, laid the foundation of Bangladesh-Japan relations.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

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Bangladesh to get patrol boats under Japan's military aid program

The move makes Dhaka the second beneficiary of defense equipment under Tokyo’s new aid program.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Bangladesh to get patrol boats under Japan's military aid program

Japan's decision to provide patrol boats to Bangladesh will make Dhaka the second beneficiary of defense equipment under Tokyo's new official security assistance military aid program. | GETTY IMAGES
BY GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ
Nov 15, 2023

Japan will provide patrol boats to Bangladesh, making Dhaka the second beneficiary of defense equipment under Tokyo's new military aid program, as it aims to bolster the South Asian country's maritime security capabilities amid Chinese naval forays into the Indian Ocean.

The move is part of a deal the two countries signed Wednesday in Dhaka that will see the vessels being provided via a grant worth ¥575 million ($3.82 million) under the official security assistance program launched in April.

That's close to the ¥600 million that the first OSA recipient, the Philippines, is being granted for the acquisition of Japanese coastal surveillance radars as part of an agreement signed earlier this month.

The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo provided no further details about the boats, saying only that they are meant to boost the Bangladesh Navy's monitoring, surveillance and disaster relief capabilities — particularly in the Bay of Bengal, which the ministry described as "an important sea lane" for Japan.

"It is getting more and more important to improve (these) capabilities ... for the Bangladesh Navy, which conducts such operations and other related activities in the Bay of Bengal," the ministry said in a statement.

The number of boats has yet to be confirmed, but ministry officials told The Japan Times they assume the funds should be enough to procure four small boats, the specifications of which will be determined as a result of the bidding process.

First announced in last December's revised National Security Strategy, the OSA framework is meant to provide equipment, supplies and infrastructure development assistance to partner countries, mostly in the Asia-Pacific region, in the form of grants rather than loans.

Tokyo is already in advanced negotiations with Malaysia and Fiji, while Vietnam and Djibouti are reportedly among those being considered as potential recipients in the coming fiscal year.

The framework, to which Tokyo allocated ¥2 billion this fiscal year, marks a break with Japan's previous policy of avoiding the use of development aid for military purposes other than disaster relief.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

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Dhaka, Tokyo to deepen defence co-op for regional peace

PM Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio stress resolving Rohingya crisis to ensure regional peace, stability

www.tbsnews.net

Dhaka, Tokyo to deepen defence co-op for regional peace
PM Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio stress resolving Rohingya crisis to ensure regional peace, stability

Photo: Reuters
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio have welcomed the commencement of negotiations on an agreement concerning the transfer of defence equipment and technology, recognising the future potential.

The two premiers have decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" as a guiding principle to lead the two countries' journey into the next 50 years and beyond, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday, reports BSS.

Both leaders shared the determination to enhance cooperation, specifically cooperation for peace and stability in the region and beyond, deepening economic cooperation for mutual benefits and regional prosperity, and expansion of cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

They also laid emphasis on realising a "sustainable, safe, voluntary, and dignified" repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar as an ultimate solution to the crisis, reports UNB.

The two premiers welcomed recent frequent port calls at Chattogram by vessels of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force and the high-level mutual visits of the Japan Self-Defence Forces and the Bangladesh Armed Forces, BSS reports.

In light of the Memorandum of Cooperation and Exchanges formulated between the defence authorities from the two sides, they concurred to continue to promote security cooperation such as mutual visits by vessels and aircraft, unit-to-unit exchange, training programmes, and goodwill exercises.

In addition, both prime ministers have decided to consider opening a Defence Wing in Tokyo and National Security Wing in Dhaka in their respective embassies in the near future.

Furthermore, they concurred to enhance dialogues among the respective diplomatic and defence authorities in order to identify possible ways to strengthen security cooperation.

PM Kishida explained Japan's efforts for fundamentally reinforcing its defence capabilities and strengthening diplomatic efforts, as illustrated in the new National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Defence Build-up Programme.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

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Japan to Provide Patrol Ships to Bangladesh under OSA Framework; More Secure Sea Lanes Sought

The government has decided to provide patrol ships worth about ¥600 million to Bangladesh under the Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework. The two countries are expected to officially reach an agreement on Wednesday.

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan to Provide Patrol Ships to Bangladesh under OSA Framework; More Secure Sea Lanes Sought

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
The Foreign Ministry head office is seen in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on Nov. 1, 2020.
The Yomiuri Shimbun
14:03 JST, November 15, 2023

The government has decided to provide patrol ships worth about ¥600 million to Bangladesh under the Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework. The two countries officially reached an agreement on Wednesday.

Bangladesh will be the second country to receive aid under the framework, which allows the government to provide defense equipment and other supplies to like-minded countries. The first OSA agreement was made with the Philippines earlier this month.

Facing the Bengal Bay, Bangladesh sits at a strategic point along Japan's sea lanes. By boosting the Bangladesh Navy's surveillance capabilities, and its ability to handle disasters, Japan hopes to keep the lanes safe for Japanese tankers and merchant ships. It also seeks to counter China, which is making increasingly hegemonic moves.

China is backing projects to improve Bangladesh's harbor infrastructure as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to create a huge economic bloc. It is also exporting arms to Bangladesh.

The government apparently intends to reduce Bangladesh's dependence on China through the OSA framework.

It also plans to grant aid under the framework to Malaysia and Fiji during this fiscal year. The final details are now being worked out.

On Monday, the Foreign Ministry chose Djibouti and Vietnam as OSA recipients for the next fiscal year.​

 

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Bangladesh set to sign defence purchase deal with Japan

Tokyo had previously proposed signing an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology between the two Asian nations

www.tbsnews.net

Bangladesh set to sign defence purchase deal with Japan
Tokyo had previously proposed signing an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology between the two Asian nations

Bangladesh is set to sign an agreement with Japan to procure defence equipment with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who holds the defence portfolio, having already given his consent.

The defence ministry has now sent the document – a copy of which has been seen by The Business Standard – to the Public Security Division, the foreign ministry, the Finance Division, and the Economic Relations Division for their final approval and opinions on the agreement.

Tokyo had previously proposed signing an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology between the two Asian nations.

All three branches of the armed forces – the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, and Bangladesh Air Force – along with the foreign ministry have expressed no objections to the agreement.

Based on Bangladesh's feedback, Japan revised the draft agreement and has resubmitted it for final consent.

Officials at the defence ministry said Bangladesh and Japan enjoy friendly bilateral relations, which also extend to the armed forces of both countries.

A Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation was signed in April 2023 during a visit by the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, aiming to elevate the existing comprehensive partnership between the two nations to a strategic partnership.

The agreement is expected to further strengthen military ties between the two countries, the officials added.

Japanese military equipment manufacturers have shown interest in selling arms to Bangladesh for several years. Meanwhile, a delegation of Japanese military equipment manufacturers has visited Bangladesh.

Japan requested Bangladesh to sign the agreement during a foreign secretary-level meeting between the two countries held in Dhaka last June.

The United States has also been negotiating with Bangladesh for several years to sign specialised defence pacts – the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). So far, Bangladesh has expressed interest in signing GSOMIA.

China and Russia remain the primary suppliers of arms to Bangladesh, which also imports weapons from neighbouring India.

As Bangladesh's financial capacity grows, the number of countries interested in selling arms to the nation has also increased. Countries such as Italy, Türkiye, Sweden, and France have been offering arms sales to Bangladesh.​

 

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Bangladesh to Sign Landmark Defence Equipment Agreement with Japan

 

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The Bangladesh government has approved a proposal to sign a defense deal with Japan. Right now, Bangladesh purchases military equipment from China, Russia, Turkey, the USA, Great Britain and Pakistan. With the signing of the deal Japan will be able to sell military hardware to Bangladesh armed forces.

 

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The following video talks about the purchase of military hardware from Japan. In my humble opinion, Bangladesh should not buy major weapon systems from Japan because the armed forces are quite happy with the Chinese weapon systems. Strategically we should not move away from China which we view as a counterweight to India.