Bangladesh will not take any step that could harm its relations with any country, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said, responding to questions about a possible drone production initiative with China and concerns over its diplomatic implications.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has reiterated that Bangladesh’s foreign policy decisions are guided by balance and national interest, stressing that the government will not pursue any initiative that damages ties with other countries.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, he said Bangladesh consistently maintains equilibrium in its international relations and does not act in ways that could strain partnerships with any side. His remarks came amid discussions over a potential government-to-government agreement with China to establish a military drone production facility.

Addressing concerns about whether such cooperation could negatively affect relations with the United States, the foreign adviser said there is no question of taking steps that would undermine ties with any country. He emphasized that Bangladesh carefully assesses the broader diplomatic impact before entering into any agreement.

On strengthening defence capabilities, Md Touhid Hossain said that enhancing the armed forces’ capacity is necessary. Referring to the Air Force, he noted that many aircraft currently in use are outdated and several are no longer operational, making the procurement of essential equipment unavoidable, even at a minimum level.

He added that discussions are ongoing on the sources and scale of defence equipment procurement, with national interest given the highest priority in decision-making.

Media reports have earlier indicated that the Ministry of Finance approved a project proposal on January 6, ahead of any formal agreement with China. The project, titled “Establishment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Production Plant and Technology Transfer,” aims to develop domestic drone manufacturing capacity.

When asked about joining alliances or blocs, the foreign adviser said Bangladesh has not joined any new alliance in the past 1.5 years. However, he noted that discussions with various international and regional groups will continue.

He said Bangladesh would consider joining any group only if it clearly serves national interests and benefits the country; otherwise, there is no question of joining any alliance.

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