US Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper Phones Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper spoke to Bangladesh's Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Hasina over phone on Friday evening.  

During the call, Secretary Esper commended the Prime Minister for Bangladesh's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent goodwill missions to his neighbors, according to a press release issued by the US Department of Defense.

The two leaders discussed their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, maintaining the sovereignty of all nations, and specific bilateral defense priorities, including maritime and regional security, global peacekeeping, and efforts to modernize Bangladesh's military capabilities.

Both leaders expressed their commitment to continue building closer bilateral defense ties in support of shared values and interests.