US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Saturday said Washington would like to provide six million US dollars to four South Asian countries-Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka-for supporting their efforts in maritime security.
“We are seeking to provide $6 million, working with the US Congress, for regional maritime security initiatives…partnering with Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka,” she said virtually during a session at the 6th Indian Ocean Conference being held in the capital.
The deputy secretary said this funding will bolster interdiction and law enforcement capacity in the Indian Ocean’s South Asian sub-region.
“I want to acknowledge India’s leadership in this space… specifically in the fields of anti-piracy, EEZ monitoring, and disaster response,” she said.
Sherman said the United States is committed to doing its part in the Indian Ocean region.
“That’s why we’ve announced plans to provide $165 million for programs across the Indian Ocean region that address climate change adaptation and mitigation, including the transition to a clean energy future,” she added.
She said the partnership is critical to maritime security, and investment in sustainable blue economies is a force multiplier, spurring economic development and demonstrating how environmental protection and economic growth are mutually reinforcing.
Through the USAID, she said, the United States invests more than $33 million in 15 countries each year to promote sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biodiversity.
“We are working to identify development assistance, including to Bangladesh, focused on growing sustainable blue economies,” the deputy secretary added.
She added, “We are doing this because unlocking its full potential requires all of us to come together. And while we are taking action to address common challenges, we are also here to listen.”
Sherman, who retires next month, thanked Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen for hosting the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC)-2023 and for inviting her to speak to the esteemed group.
Afreen Akhter, deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs for Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives, led the US delegation in-person during the conference.
