Italy’s Undersecretary of State for Defence Matteo Perego di Cremnago led an official visit to Bangladesh, accompanied by Italy’s ambassador Antonio Alessandro, holding talks with government leaders and top military officials to strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation.
Why it matters: The visit signals Rome’s intent to be a more active security partner in South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.
- It aligns Italy’s defence diplomacy with its broader push to safeguard sea lanes, energy routes and trade flows critical to global supply chains.
- Bangladesh’s growing strategic relevance makes it a key interlocutor as Europe looks eastward.
Driving the story: Perego met Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, stressing that cooperation among like-minded countries is essential as international security dynamics shift.
- Talks with Navy Chief Mohammad Nazmul Hassan focused on the centrality of the Indo-Pacific to future geopolitical balances, with an emphasis on freedom of navigation and regional stability.
- Meetings with Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman explored collaboration in personnel exchanges, training and skills sharing.
- Discussions with Air Force Chief Hasan Mahmood Khan highlighted prospects for deeper technological and industrial cooperation.
What they’re saying: Perego argued that “peace, regional stability and freedom of navigation are essential preconditions for the security of commercial and energy flows,” framing Italy–Bangladesh ties as grounded in “dialogue, trust and concrete cooperation.”
The bigger picture: Italy is increasingly positioning itself as a Mediterranean and European stakeholder in the Indo-Pacific, linking defence partnerships to economic security, maritime governance and engagement with regional organisations.
What’s next: Both sides signalled interest in translating political dialogue into practical cooperation—particularly in training, capability development and defence-industry links—suggesting follow-up initiatives could come soon.
