US Indo-Pacific Commander Aquilino may visit Bangladesh

Admiral John Aquilino, commander of US Indo-Pacific forces

Dhaka, Mar 1 – Admiral John Aquilino, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, is likely to visit Bangladesh in the coming weeks, said a diplomatic source Wednesday.

Details are yet to be known.

Aquilino assumed duties as commander of Indo-Pacific Command in May 2021. He is the 26th commander of the US' oldest and largest combatant command.

The US Indo-Pacific Command includes 380,000 soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, coast guardsmen and Department of Defense civilians and is responsible for all US military activities in the Indo-Pacific, covering 36 nations, 14 time zones, and more than 50 percent of the world's population.

The Indo-Pacific region must be an area of peace and prosperity for all, says the US which wants it to be a "free, open, peaceful, secure, and inclusive region."

The US Indo-Pacific Strategy has five key elements that guide its long-term engagement in the region.

The country envisions an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. - UNB