Dhaka sees Sergio Gor visit to deepen BD-US ties
Bangladesh has expressed optimism that the upcoming visit of United States Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor will add fresh momentum to bilateral relations and open up new avenues of cooperation between Dhaka and Washington. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday said the relationship between Bangladesh and the United States had continued to strengthen under the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and expressed hope that the high level visit would give a new dimension to the partnership.
“The relationship between Bangladesh and the US has always been good, and that relationship is getting stronger under the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“We believe that any high level US visit will further deepen the relations between Bangladesh and the US. We hope that our multidimensional relations will move forward through this visit,” she said.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Gor, who also serves as the US Ambassador to India, is likely to arrive in Dhaka on July 29 or 30 after Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman returns from his overseas engagements.
During the visit, the US special envoy is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. He is also expected to exchange views with leaders of political parties, professionals and representatives of civil society.
Diplomatic sources said the visit comes at a significant time as the BNP government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has been pursuing an active foreign policy under the banner of “Bangladesh First”, while simultaneously strengthening ties with major global and regional powers.
The visit is expected to provide Washington with a clearer understanding of Dhaka’s diplomatic priorities, including its economic strategy, regional engagement and security outlook. Shama Obaed said the discussions were likely to focus on expanding cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, economic diplomacy and people to people contacts.
The visit follows a series of high profile diplomatic engagements undertaken by the BNP government.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recently concluded visits to Malaysia and China, where several important bilateral decisions were reached. He is also expected to visit Japan in August and Türkiye in October, sources said.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has also maintained an active diplomatic schedule over the past five months, visiting Türkiye, Belgium, Ethiopia, India, China and Russia, resulting in several agreements and understandings aimed at expanding Bangladesh’s international partnerships.
Against this backdrop, Washington is expected to assess how Bangladesh’s evolving diplomacy fits within the wider Indo-Pacific strategic landscape, where the country is regarded as an increasingly important partner because of its geographical location and growing economy.
Diplomatic sources said three issues are likely to dominate the discussions which include Bangladesh’s relations with China, recently concluded reciprocal trade arrangement between Dhaka and Washington, and Bangladesh’s relationship with neighbouring India.
Diplomatic observers believe Gor’s visit carries economic, political and strategic importance at a time when Bangladesh is pursuing a more diversified foreign policy without abandoning its traditional partnerships.
Sergio Gor is regarded as one of US President Donald Trump’s close associates. Before assuming his current responsibilities, he served as Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office.
In August 2025, President Trump appointed him as Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, and he later assumed office as the US Ambassador to India in January this year.
Operating from New Delhi, Gor oversees Washington’s strategic engagement not only with India but also with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
His appointment has been widely viewed as part of the Trump administration’s effort to strengthen economic partnerships, reinforce regional stability and advance the Indo-Pacific strategy amid China’s expanding influence across South Asia.
Before assuming his diplomatic responsibilities, Gor served as Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House, where he oversaw the appointment of thousands of political officials across the federal government.
The planned visit follows a high level meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila on Wednesday.
Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir and Sergio Gor were also present during the meeting, where both sides discussed ways to further strengthen Bangladesh-US bilateral relations.
