NEW DELHI – The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, originally established to provide technical assistance and training to the developing world, has become a cornerstone of defense cooperation between India and Bangladesh. Despite political tensions over the past 18 months, which could have derailed bilateral ties, ITEC has quietly sustained robust maritime collaboration between the two nations.
Between fiscal years 2016–17 and 2024–25, the ITEC framework enabled India to train 419 Bangladesh Navy personnel across a range of critical areas, including seamanship and navigation, hydrography, maritime law enforcement, and advanced warfare tactics. These programs, conducted at Indian naval institutions, have fostered deep professional ties that endure regardless of political fluctuations. Even during the strained 2024–25 period, 34 Bangladeshi officers continued their training without interruption, a testament to the strength of these connections.
The resilience of maritime cooperation stands in stark contrast to other defense engagements. The bilateral army exercise, SAMPRITI, has not been held since its 11th edition in October 2023, amid political instability in Dhaka. Additionally, a key defense contract under India’s $500 million line of credit—intended for an 800-tonne ocean-going tug from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers—was canceled by Dhaka in May 2025. These developments underscore the vulnerability of hardware-based cooperation, which political changes can easily disrupt. However, in 2025, both navies moved ahead with the fifth Bongosagar exercise and the sixth edition of the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) in the Bay of Bengal. Ships met, drills were executed, and patrol patterns followed seamlessly.
This continuity aligns with India’s broader maritime security strategy, encapsulated in its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) framework. For India, training is not merely a goodwill gesture but a critical foundation for long-term cooperation. It builds habits, creates shared language, and fosters trust—elements that remain intact even when political tensions arise. Unlike hardware sales, which are subject to political shifts, training investments shape the individuals—officers and sailors—who will guide future cooperation at sea.
The Bangladesh experience illustrates this model effectively. Even when diplomatic relations were at their lowest, the naval channel remained functional because the ties between the two nations are grounded in enduring institutional and personal connections, not symbolic or transactional agreements. Officers who had trained together were able to carry out bilateral exercises with professionalism and confidence, even when other forms of engagement faltered.
India’s ITEC-based naval training has become a central pillar of maritime diplomacy across the Indian Ocean Region. The program does more than produce skilled officers—it cultivates trust, interoperability, and long-term partnerships among regional navies.
For countries with limited naval training infrastructure—such as Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Myanmar, the Maldives, Seychelles, and Bangladesh—India provides world-class professional courses that elevate regional maritime security. In a maritime environment increasingly influenced by great-power competition, steady, reliable partnerships are essential. Non-traditional threats, such as piracy, trafficking, and environmental hazards, complicate the security landscape. Training partnerships help regional navies enhance their surveillance, interdiction, and law enforcement capabilities, benefiting not only bilateral ties but also regional security.
The continuity of maritime cooperation between India and Bangladesh, sustained through ITEC training, exemplifies a model of defense diplomacy that can endure even amidst political uncertainty. While diplomatic relations may face challenges, the institutional and personal bonds forged through ITEC have provided a consistent pathway for sustained cooperation.
In India and Bangladesh, this approach has proven resilient. By investing in people, promoting shared professional standards, and fostering long-term institutional familiarity, ITEC training has ensured that naval cooperation remains one of the most stable aspects of their relationship, even when other engagement channels experience setbacks.
Ashu Mann
Ashu Mann is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. He was awarded the Vice Chief of the Army Staff Commendation card on Army Day 2025. He is pursuing a PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies. His research focuses include India-China territorial dispute, great power rivalry, and Chinese foreign policy.
