51吃瓜

Last December, India took over the G20 presidency for 2023. India has invited Bangladesh along with Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the which will meet September 9鈥�10.

India announced its goal during its G20 presidency as 鈥�,鈥� glossed in English as 鈥淥ne Earth, One Family, One Future.鈥� On the surface, this seems like an agenda based on global inclusivity, but behind this are India鈥檚 far-reaching ambitions of solidifying its influence as a leader of the Global South and one of the rising powers in the world.

The invitation of Bangladesh holds special importance as this is the first time the country will attend the summit and it is also the only South Asian country to be invited this year. India has also stated that it expects Bangladesh鈥檚 鈥溾�� in the G20 meetings to promote the issues of mutual interest in the global arena.

Why Bangladesh?

The Modi government has dreamt big and its invitation to Bangladesh is a part of the strategy. But where does Bangladesh fit in? Why now, 18 summits after the formation of the G20? The answer lies in Bangladesh鈥檚 exponential economic growth, as well as its physical location. 

Bangladesh was the largest economy in 2022, with a GDP size of $460 billion. Its economy has grown 5鈥�7% each year over the last decade (with the exception of 2020, the year of the Covid pandemic). PwC Bangladesh be the 23rd-largest economy by 2050. Bangladesh has its larger neighbor India in many social and economic indicators. It is no tiny nation, either; with a population of 160 million people and a rapidly developing economy, Bangladesh is a potential golden goose.

Bangladesh has emerged as a regional hub for trade. Goods from China, Myanmar and elsewhere make their way from Bangladeshi ports to Nepal and Bhutan by land through India. So, investing in Bangladesh is in India鈥檚 interest to prevent China from instead consolidating influence in the region. If India is to project power globally, it must secure its own backyard by keeping its neighbors close.

In March, India and Bangladesh the project to build the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, which will carry diesel fuel from a hub in Siliguri, India, to Parbatipur, Bangladesh. Along with Japan, the two countries held a this April to discuss developing physical links between Bangladesh and Northeast India, which is landlocked and largely separated from the rest of India by Bangladesh.

Given both the lucrative opportunities for development and the paid to the Indo-Pacific region by powers like China and the US, it is in India鈥檚 best interest to adopt a 鈥済ood neighbor policy鈥� towards Bangladesh.

Not only India has its eye on Bangladesh

Where India sees Bangladesh as both an economic and a strategic investment, other major powers have their own goals with Dhaka. 

China wants Bangladesh to be a part of its expansionist string of pearls. Beijing has successfully enrolled Bangladesh into its . China鈥檚 non-interference policy and Bangladesh鈥檚 non-alignment policy have kept their relationship smooth. Beijing鈥檚 massive investment in Bangladesh, its extension of to most goods from Bangladesh, the countries鈥� growing trade and their political collaboration on the Rohingya issue have helped bring Bangladesh closer to China.

The cooperation of countries like Bangladesh can help China both to extend its influence in South and Southeast Asia and create alternate routes to the Strait of Malacca, a choke point that is currently a for China.

The US has also shown a keen interest in Bangladesh, but its policies are complicated by Washington鈥檚 ever-consistent need to interfere in the internal matters of others. On one hand, the US wants Bangladesh to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to restrain China鈥檚 growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. On the other hand, has targeted Dhaka with about the security of its democracy. The growing frustration caused by incidents like this is pushing Bangladesh more towards China and India. Still, Bangladesh has not formally chosen sides yet.

That is plenty enough reason for the G20 to want Bangladesh at the table. As former colonies are rising as alternatives to the old powers, Bangladesh, like the rest of the Global South, finally has an opportunity to be a player instead of a pawn in the game. Dhaka must continue what it has started, build strong infrastructure, alleviate poverty and cautiously steer through the multilateral platforms like G20 to keep a good number of friends close. If Bangladesh plays its position well, it can be a real factor in the power politics of the world.

[ edited this piece.]

The views expressed in this article are the author鈥檚 own and do not necessarily reflect 51吃瓜鈥檚 editorial policy.