Dhaka: US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy on South and Central Asian Affairs, Sergio Gor, commenced his first official visit to Bangladesh on Thursday. “I am delighted to welcome to Bangladesh my friend, the U.S. Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, Ambassador Sergio Gor,” expressed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen. The visit is anticipated to bolster Bangladesh-US strategic ties alongside regional security and economic cooperation.

According to United News of Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman described the visit as “exploratory,” highlighting that the envoy aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of Bangladesh. “He will want to understand Bangladesh. He will speak not only with us but also with many other stakeholders,” Dr. Khalilur stated during a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

Dr. Khalilur further mentioned that Gor is expected to visit the Rohingya camps, emphasizing the United States’ role as the largest international donor to the Rohingya humanitarian efforts. The Foreign Minister underscored the multidimensional nature of Bangladesh-US relations and the mutual interest in advancing the partnership.

In response to questions regarding potential pressure from Washington about the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), Dr. Khalilur assured, “We do not feel any kind of pressure.” He reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to enhancing relations with all countries while safeguarding national interests, stating, “We will never strengthen relations with one country at the expense of another.”