US 7th fleet base in Bangladesh?

[Ray]

Without the US protection and RESTRAINT, S. Korea and Japan would go nuke to counter N. Korea, like India did and then Pakistan in tandem


So all this US-BD bhai bhai impact is on China again, and India will enjoy "positive security advantages' from such a "US-India-Bangladesh Strategic Trilateral emerging".

That would be an exaggeration that they would go nuclear.

They can still go nuclear.

Pakistan did even though Pakistan was under US tutelage.

It is no Bhai Bhai at all.

The US presence is fine, but it is too near for comfort and that is not a very comfortable aspect for India.

It is true, however, that the US presence in Bangladesh will be a countervailing influence of China in the region and would do much to also wean away Myanmar from China.

All ready the process has started in Myanmar.

 

[ejazr]

@Ray

I am talking about the speculative part of the media that is not news or newsworthy. That is not muzzling the media. Its about asking the media to be responsible and report honestly rather than sensationalising the issue.

IF you read the transcript on which the Times Now report, it is explicitly talking about the basing of the 7th Fleet not just a section or a TF. It makes it sound sinister and anti-India when even the spokesperson categorically denied that there is no such request with BD. IF the media really wants to do some hard hitting journalism, there is plenty of real issues that they can focus on rather than this.

I draw your attention particularly to the last part where you again see this unnecessay anti-US bias

This move by America could put India on the back foot if the American fleet moves to Bangladesh, all of India's security installations will come under the American scanner. Bangladesh is not willing to comment on record even offering explanation to deny the developments. This Clinton visit a more strategic one than just a friendly one- the Indian establishment caught unawares--as this base could cast a shadow on India's own strategic interests.

Why this "masala" at the end? IS there some actual proof that this has occurred or will occur? Should this be regarded as news or some OpEd fantasy piece? IMO, I don't see any reason why we should be hostile or paranoid of the US to such a degree. Yes, be mindful of our interests. Make sure India is involved in anything that happens in this region. IF there is going to US navy vessels docking in BD, then India should be aware of it and we would discuss this with the seretary of state certainly.

India has has numerous military exercises with the naval assets of the 7th fleet. BD most recently as September last year had military exercises with the 7th fleet naval assets as well. (Bangladesh-US navies begin joint security exercises)
So rather than being worried or paranoid, I think its good to have BD be closer to the US and do military exercises with them rather than say China. What we should be doing is to get actively involved in this process and have trialteral exercises, maybe joint task forces to patrol Bay of Bengal and South China sea waters and basically build a robust trilateral military relationship between the three rather than be paranoid about BD on one hand and the US on the other.

Its only China and Pakistan that we should be focussed on. All other countries are either friends or potential friends.

 

[Ray]

@ejazr


It has not been officially endorsed by the US that they are aiming to base any naval assets in Bangladesh.

Hence, everything said or reported is speculative and none can state what is to be based - the whole Fleet or a Task Force.

Most of the public would not understand difference between a Fleet and CG or a Task Force or even the difference between a destroyer and a corvette.

To them, the 7th Fleet is what they would understand.

The media survives on hyperbole.

I would be indeed surprised if any Govt spokesperson of any Govt would ever give a straight answer to uncomfortable questions that can cause serious misgiving to the public. Therefore, a spokesperson denying is as per the norms. Did Raja or Kalamadi say they stole money?:

all of India's security installations will come under the American scanner.

What are electronic listening posts all about? Why is India so worried about Chinese assets in Myanmar near Coco Island or US worried about Chinese assets in Gwadar? There are no Chinese naval presence there and yet the worry. Electronic surveillance.

Check the thread on how US control over Israel that is preventing any unilateral Israeli action against Iran.

Diego Gracia is another area that causes concern to all Nations around. Not because of the military might, but it has a highly sophisticated and intense electronic snooping network.

US naval exercises are no threat since they are not permanently stationed in the Bay of Bengal or the Indian Ocean. Anything permanent raises hackles. There was a report that the US wanted to make a submarine base in the Andaman. Why was it not pursued? Because none want a permanent presence!.

 

[parijataka]

Plausible news. US is disappointed by increasingly fundamentalist and temperamental Pakistan that is on dole so to say from US and Saudis and looking for another `partner`. How will this affect India though, if true ?

 

[Bhadra]

Plausible news. US is disappointed by increasingly fundamentalist and temperamental Pakistan that is on dole so to say from US and Saudis and looking for another `partner`. How will this affect India though, if true ?

Good for India as it will piggy ride the Security created in Bay of Bengal and may concentrate South and West. But this free ride will have its own cost !!

 

[sob]

If one looks at it from purely American interests than the recent activities of Secretary Hilton, reflect a new thinking in US Diplomacy. They are now relying on old fashioned diplomacy and trade to wean away nations from the influence of China. Look at Vietnam which was wooed by US and today has a very good relationship with the US, if one looks at their past history.

Myanmar is slowly getting out of the Chinese embrace and US is busy wooing the Generals and the politicians led by Aung Su. The Chinese have lost couple of big projects in Myanmar, and I am sure this new friendship with the US has some bearing on their decision.

BD is another country which was slowly slipping into the Chinese embrace with some major defense deals, especially for the Navy in the pipeline.

As EjazR, has mentioned, we need to understand the situation, and not react as if it is 1971 and the 7th fleet is sailing up the Bay of Bengal. It is in our interest to take this to a logical conclusion. We dominate only south asia but the US is the big guy on the street with whom we have very good relations and shared concerns and goals. It is time for our diplomats work this out to our advantage.

 

[Ray]

I am not too sure about the basing issue.

There is no Free Lunches as they say.

How will it affect us is what we must think through, keeping the issue of the US weaning away Myanmar and Bangladesh.

I wonder if the US is comfortable with India, its size, growing economy, so on and so forth.

 

[sob]

Looks like sensationalising by Times Now.

Seriously our news channels really need to be slapped with some heavy fines or atleast revoke their "News" status so that everyone knows that its an Entertainment channle and not a news channel

The 7th fleet is mainly based in Japan and South Korea and there is no reason why it would change that location given the pivot east policy being implemented. The North EastAsia theatre is very important for the US and the main responsibility for that region is with the 7th fleet.

Overall, BD getting closer with the US rather than China is good for us. Its about time that we stepped up our military diplomacy and used the US partnership to stregthen BD-India military ties. We should stop being paranoid about the US on everything. Afterall, they already have a naval base in Diego Garcia, and also have the 5th fleet based in the Persian Gulf in Bahrain and Qatar. We hold the largest number of military exercises with the US than with any other country. Eventually, our aim would be to have BD as a partner similar to a sort of a South Asian NATO in the longer term.

Good analysis of the news behind the sensational headlines.

 

[sob]

I am not too sure about the basing issue.

There is no Free Lunches as they say.

How will it affect us is what we must think through, keeping the issue of the US weaning away Myanmar and Bangladesh.

I wonder if the US is comfortable with India, its size, growing economy, so on and so forth.

Sir, today for both India and the Us the need is mutual and sticking points are far and almost nil. Maybe our need today is more. We have to be very pragmatic and concentrate on building of our strength, both economic and military.

 

[Ray]

Diego Gracia US Naval Facilities.

Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia
The Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia provides Base Operating Services to tenant commands located on the island. The command's mission is "To provide logistic support to operational forces forward deployed to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf AORs in support of national policy objectives."[112]
As of January 2012, the facility supported the following tenant commands:
Maritime Pre-Positioning Ships Squadron TWO
Branch Health Clinic
NCTAMS Pacific Det Diego Garcia
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Detachment
Naval Media Center Detachment Diego Garcia
Military Sealift Command Office Diego Garcia
Mission Support Facility
FISC Yokosuka
NAVFAC FE
36 MXG Pacific Air Force
Det 1, 715th AMOG (AMC)
AFSPC Det 2, 22nd Space Operations Squadron (ARTS & GPS)
AFSPC Det 2, 18th Space Surveillance Squadron (GEODSS)
Additionally, the USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) is forward deployed to Diego Garcia.

US pre-positioned vessels

he atoll shelters the ships of the US Marine Pre-positioning Squadron Two. These ships carry equipment and supplies to support a major armed force with tanks, armoured personnel carriers, munitions, fuel, spare parts and even a mobile field hospital. This equipment was used during the Persian Gulf War, when the squadron transported equipment to Saudi Arabia.
The ship composition of MPSRON TWO is dynamic. During August 2010 it was composed of:
MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett (T-AK-4296)
USNS SGT William R. Button (T-AK-3012),[113]
MV SSG Edward A. Carter, Jr. (T-AK-4544),[114]
MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher (T-AK-4396)
USNS Lawrence H. Gianella (T-AOT-1125)
USNS SGT Matej Kocak (T-AK-3005),[115]
USNS 1st LT Baldomero Lopez (T-AK-3010),[116]
MV LTC John U. D. Page[117]
USNS GYSGT Fred W. Stockham (T-AK-3017)

Five of these vessels carry supplies for the US Marine Corps sufficient to support a Marine Air-Ground Task Force for 30 days: USNS Button, USNS Kocak, USNS Lopez, USNS Stockham, and USNS Fisher.

Prior to 2001, COMPSRON 2 consisted of up to 20 ships, including four Combat Force Ships which provided rapid-response delivery of equipment to ground troops in the US Army. Three are Lighter aboard ships (LASH) which carry barges called Lighters that contain Army ammunition to be ferried ashore: MV American Cormorant, SS Green Harbour, (LASH), SS Green Valley, (LASH), MV Jeb Stuart, (LASH). There were Logistics Vessels to service the rapid delivery requirements of the US Air Force, US Navy and Defense Logistics Agency. These included container ships for Air Force munitions, missiles and spare parts; a 500-bed hospital ship, and floating storage and offloading units assigned to Military Sealift Command supporting the Defense Logistics Agency, and an offshore petroleum discharge system (OPDS) tanker ship. Some ship names were MV Buffalo Soldier, MV Green Ridge, pre-position tanker USNS Henry J. Kaiser, and tanker USNS Potomac (T-AO-181).

Satellite and Communication Facilities

Air Force Satellite Control Network station
Main article: Air Force Satellite Control Network
The US Air Force operates a Remote Tracking Station on Diego Garcia. Its call sign is REEF. This facility became more vital after the closure of the Indian Ocean Station in 1996.[citation needed]
[edit]GEODSS Station


Diego Garcia GEODSS station.[citation needed]
Main article: GEODSS
The US Air Force Operates a station of the Ground-based Electro-optical Deep Space Surveillance system on the southern end of the atoll.[citation needed]7.41173°S 72.45222°E
[edit]Global Positioning System monitoring station
Diego Garcia is one of the five control bases for the Global Positioning System, operated by the United States military. The US Air Force also has monitoring stations in Hawaii, Kwajalein, Ascension Island, and Colorado Springs. The stations synchronise and update the atomic clocks on the 24 orbiting satellites that emit the signals used by GPS receivers. 7.26654999°S 72.36312094°E[118]
[edit]HF Global station
Main article: High Frequency Global Communications System
The US Air Force operates a High Frequency Global Communications System transceiver site located on the south end of the atoll near the GEODSS station. The transceiver is operated remotely from Joint Base Andrews and locally maintained by NCTS FE personnel.[citation needed]
[edit]Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Far East Detachment Diego Garcia
Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Far East Detachment Diego Garcia operates a detachment in Diego Garcia. This detachment provides base telephone communications, provides base network services (Local Network Services Center), pier connectivity services, an AN/GSC-39C SHF satellite terminal, operates the Hydroacoustic Data Acquisition System, and performs on-site maintenance for the remotely operated Air Force HF-GCS terminal.[citation needed]
[edit]Naval Security Group Detachment Diego Garcia
Naval Security Group detachment Diego Garcia was disestablished on September 30, 2005.[119] Remaining essential operations were transferred to a contractor. The large AN/AX-16 High Frequency Radio direction finding Circularly Disposed Antenna Array has been demolished, but the four satellite antenna radomes around the site remain as of 2010.[citation needed]
[edit]ETOPS emergency landing site
Diego Garcia may be identified as an ETOPS (Extended Range Twin Engine Operations) emergency landing site (en route alternate) for flight planning purposes of commercial airliners. This allows twin-engine commercial aircraft (such as the Airbus A330, Boeing 767 or Boeing 777) to make theoretical nonstop flights between city pairs such as Perth and Dubai (9,013.61 km/5,600.80 mi), Hong Kong and Johannesburg (10,658 km/6,623 mi) or Singapore and São Paulo (15,985.41 km/9,932.87 mi), all while maintaining a suitable diversion airport within 180 minutes' flying time with one engine inoperable.[120]
[edit]Space shuttle
The island was one of 33 emergency landing sites worldwide for the NASA Space Shuttle.[121] None of these facilities were ever used throughout the life of the shuttle program.
[edit]Cargo service


MV Baffin Strait transits between Singapore and Diego Garcia once a month.
All consumable food and equipment is brought to Diego Garcia by sea or air, and all non-biodegradable waste is shipped off the island as well. From 1971 to 1973, US Navy LSTs provided this service. Beginning in 1973, civilian ships were contracted to provide these services. Beginning in 2004 the US-flagged container ship MV Baffin Strait, often referred to as the "DGAR shuttle," has been chartered to deliver 250 containers each month to Diego Garcia from Singapore.[122] The ship delivered more than 200,000 tons of cargo to the island each year."[122] On the return trip to Singapore, it carries recyclable metals.[123]
In 2004 TransAtlantic Lines outbid Sealift Incorporated for the transport contract between Singapore and Diego Garcia.[124] The route had previously been serviced by Sealift Inc.'s MV Sagamore, manned by members of American Maritime Officers and Seafarers' International Union.[124] TransAtlantic Lines reportedly won the contract by approximately 10 percent, representing a price difference of about US$2.7 million.[124] The Baffin Straits charter ran from January 10, 2005 to September 30, 2008 at a daily rate of US$12,550.

Wiki

The importance is the US electronic command and control network.

 

[amoy]

Myanmar is slowly getting out of the Chinese embrace and US is busy wooing the Generals and the politicians led by Aung Su. The Chinese have lost couple of big projects in Myanmar, and I am sure this new friendship with the US has some bearing on their decision.

Such a thinking could be too simplistic that China-US are playing a zero-sum game in Myanmar and now BD, i.e. any inch the US advances is at the expense of China there. Is it true? IMO hardly so -

1) China's prowess in those countries has been overhyped, such as "string of pearl" encroachment or naval bases etc. Meaning China doesn't have as much to lose as imagined. The background for China losing big projects is far complex, including MY internal in-fighting btwn ethnic rebels and the junta (Centre) than any US factor.

2) When the US makes inroads into BD or MY does it necessarily imply China losing out?? At the end of day BD or MY knows it well both are needed to achieve their own agendas, be it FDI, bail-out from isolation, and leverages against India (??)

3) Pulling China into (almost) every drama IMO is often far-fetched, and serves to divert attention or as a placebo that "all is well. India will be an beneficiary..."

Of course 7th fleet base thing sounds a faked story fm the very beginning

 

[Kunal Biswas]

If this is true we dont have a reason to hold back on testing warheads and deploying longer range missiles.

US 7th fleet keeps up rolling through Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, South China sea and Pacific ocean..

Nothing new, If they are up to making a base in Bangladesh its different but that is highly unlikely..

 

[Zebra]

looks not only china, India bhai bhai not welcome them.
we should attach them from west by India and east by China.


if you want beat them alone, China can give you waaaay longer range missiles ,totally free.

Send them in large quantity and ASAP.
India-China bhai bhai.

 

[pashya001]

Send them in large quantity and ASAP.
India-China bhai bhai.

it will cause some problems in future for india also bcz america never becomes true friend of any country!!!!!!!!!!!! mind it..

 

[Zebra]

it will cause some problems in future for india also bcz america never becomes true friend of any country!!!!!!!!!!!! mind it..

Before, I was alone.
Now join with me.

 

[Yusuf]

Ejaz, well put.

I would not lose my sleep if the US 7th is in Chittagong.

 

[trackwhack]

US 7th fleet keeps up rolling through Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, South China sea and Pacific ocean..

Nothing new, If they are up to making a base in Bangladesh its different but that is highly unlikely..

If they are heading for a base in Bangladesh, then between Gwadar, Hambantota and this, we are surrounded by the current imperialist superpower and next imperialist superpower. And we sit like spineless dolts arguing whether it is good for us or not.

Three shitty little countries - Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, our neighbours are fcking with us and we play Jesus Christ by turning the other cheek! We also have Nepal bending over backwards for China and Burma which is already infested with Chicoms.

What kind of country are we if we have allowed all our puny neighbours to let the two biggest imperialists countries surround us like this?

 

[Zebra]

Bangladesh to review defence ties with United States

Posted on | april 10, 2012, AUTHOR: Saleem Samad (Bangladesh Watchdog)

Bangladesh and the United States will review the existing bilateral defense co-operation next week in the capital Dhaka.

Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni said on Sunday that she will take the opportunity to review the cooperation during the security dialogue scheduled on April 19. She also asserted that there is no plan to allow U.S. military base in Bangladesh, nor any other foreign country.

The foreign minister also said there was no proposal from the U.S. administration regarding the establishment of a base in Bangladesh or in it's off shore isles.

In early March, the American ambassador Dan W. Mozena rejected news reports and reiterated that there was no permanent presence of U.S. Special Forces in Bangladesh, but on different occasion's small teams routinely visits to conduct training.

Moni said Bangladesh has multifaceted co-operation with the U.S., including co-operation to fight against terrorism and militancy.

Responding to reporters query, whether the dialogue would lead to increase presence of the U.S. army or its base in the Bay of Bengal, the minister said that Bangladesh-U.S. security dialogue is a routine activity and the government held such meetings with many other countries too.

The minister added: "There is no presence of the U.S. military here, barring six or seven U.S. military men who are here for the training purpose."

Last week U.S. Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman disclosed to reporters that the U.S. and Bangladesh will hold a dialogue on security challenges that the two countries face in this region and throughout the world.

Sherman had said U.S. Assistant Secretary for political and military affairs Andrew J. Shapiro will be in Dhaka for the dialogue.

Bangladesh to review defence ties with United States : NL-Aid

 

[pankaj nema]

Indian Media does have a very FERTILE Imagination
Before they weave out new stories at least they should have a cursory glance at the map

If the aim is to contain China in SCS then how a military base in Chittagong will help

US fleet in the West Pacific is already quite stretched
and is having many bases in Philipines Taiwan South Korea and Japan

Singapore and Thailand are US allies Vietnam is waiting to jump in USA's Lap

Chitagong is 2000KM away from the straits of Malacca

How can a US Navy fleet perform its security tasks if it has to rush from 2000 KM away

On the contrary India's TRI service command in Andaman Islands can be of much use to USA

When did India decline US any help

US ships can also refuel at Vishaka patnam ; Chennai and Colombo ports

 

[pankaj nema]

As per this Times now News report Chitta gong will be useful for keeping an eye on Myanmar

But MyanMar is already moving away from China and closer to US and India

Such a reckless move by the USA will unnerve China which will be bad for Myanmar
as China still helps the Myanmar ruling junta a lot

Or is it that US does not trust Myanmar

Bangladesh will only get a few billion dollars but they are already doing good business with China

China will immediately dump Bangladesh if this happens

So this Chittagong base is good for India