India invites Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman to BRICS summit
Primary region BRICS
Tags Diplomacy · Politics
Regions BRICS · Asia
India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi in September, paving way for the first visit by the BNP leader to India since assuming office earlier this year. Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Dhaka had received the invitation from New Delhi and forwarded it to the Prime Minister's Office. India is set to host the 18th BRICS summit on September 12 and 13. Bangladesh — which is not a member of BRICS and does not have observer status with the grouping — is among a handful of countries whose leaders have been invited to the summit as special guests.
Strategic interpretation
Modi's outreach to Bangladesh through BRICS signals India's strategy to expand its influence in South Asia while isolating Pakistan. The invitation may normalize Bangladesh-India relations after previous tensions, potentially strengthening the regional balance against Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean.