Professor Mohammad Yunus head of the interim Bangladesh administration during his recent china visit has made many contentious comments which would raise many eyebrows in Indian diplomatic circles. His solicitation of Chinese goods and trade more than investment is aimed at India and his mention of India’s northeast is provocative. Calling them landlocked and dependent on Bangladesh for sea access is indicative of their intentions. The chickens neck region is a strategic challenge and landlocked northeast’s only connection and any disturbance in this area will reify his statement. Secondly his offer of handling Chinese market in this region also has geostrategic implications. It is also a clear declaration that Bangladesh would move away from Indian goods and investments which has been its mainstay. That the Yunus administration is heavily dependent upon USA makes it even more precarious. The trump tariffs have taken effect and no diplomatic breakthrough is visible. If India is losing out on both USA and china along with its neighborhood it is a foreign policy nightmare.
Foreign policy challenge
