Bangladesh, US launch Tiger Lightning 26

The Bangladesh Armed Forces and the United States Army is going to launch the annual Tiger Lightning 26 bilateral military exercise today, aimed at strengthening defence cooperation, enhancing operational readiness and improving interoperability between the two forces.

The exercise will bring together more than 160 military personnel from both countries for joint training designed to enhance their ability to operate effectively in real-world scenarios.

According to the US Embassy in Dhaka, this year’s exercise will focus on jungle operations, counter-terrorism and tactical combat casualty care, providing troops from both countries with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of each other’s operational capabilities, procedures and military practices.

Tiger Lightning 26 forms part of the United States Army Pacific’s Theatre Army Campaign Plan and broader bilateral security cooperation efforts aimed at strengthening professional military ties, improving operational effectiveness, increasing readiness and fostering greater interoperability between the US Army and the Bangladesh Army.

First launched in 2017, Tiger Lightning serves as a key bilateral military engagement between the US Army and the Bangladesh Armed Forces.

Although the exercise was temporarily suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, it resumed afterwards and has been held annually over the past five years.

This year’s programme will include both classroom instruction and field-based training before culminating in a comprehensive field training exercise, allowing participating personnel to apply the skills and procedures acquired throughout the course.

Officials said the exercise provides an important platform for expanding defence cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States while enhancing the two militaries’ capacity to respond jointly to a wide range of operational challenges.