In a move that could recalibrate strategic alignments in South Asia, three Russian naval vessels—Admiral Tributs, Admiral Panteleyev, and the tanker Pechenga—docked at Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port this Sunday. This comes close on the heels of Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed’s recent trip to Moscow, signalling a growing military relationship between the two countries.
While Dhaka has officially termed the naval stopover a “friendly port call,” the event has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Bay of Bengal.
Though framed as a recent visit, the presence of Russian warships in Chittagong – Bangladesh’s key seaport – is far from insignificant. The navy vessels are expected to stay at the port for several days. While the official purpose is said to involve logistics restocking and naval diplomacy, their arrival immediately after General Ahmed’s return from Moscow is no confidence.
The visit underscores a widening of Russia’s defence outreach in South Asia beyond traditional allies like India and reflects Bangladesh’s effort to diversify its military relationships. This diversification is increasingly seen as a strategic balancing act by Dhaka.
The visit of Russian naval ships to Chittagong port seems to be aimed at diversifying its military partnership in a big to reduce its dependence on China.
According to SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) data, China accounted for nearly 74% of Bangladesh’s total arms imports between 2018 and 2022, making it the country’s dominant military supplier.
Bangladesh has purchased a wide range of defense systems from China, including frigates, corvettes, tanks, fighter jets, and submarines.
This dependence gave China considerable strategic leverage, bolstered by infrastructure investments under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Now, the growing visibility of Russia — a former Cold War-era defense partner — especially in naval diplomacy, suggests that Bangladesh is actively seeking to diversify its military partnerships. That shift directly undermines Beijing’s influence.