Bangladesh's Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said Monday his country is looking to Russia to strengthen its naval fleet and lessen dependence on Chinese armory, Tass reported.
First sights are on buying two off-the-shelf diesel-electric submarines and warplanes for its navy as the country seeks to distance itself from Chinese sourcing of around half its weapons inventory, the minister added on Monday.
Defense sector partnership would not be limited to equipment, he said, eyeing Russian training for Bangladeshi military and technology transfer.
The two states are already cooperating successfully in the defense sector. In recent years, Russia has supplied Bangladesh with MiG-29 jets, three Mi-171Sh helicopters and several dozen armored vehicles.