The pro-western claim that a US military base cannot be built on St. Martin Island is untrue

Here are some specific reasons against what western analysts have said

1 minute read

June 23, 2023 3:49 pm

Dhaka: Certain Pro-western analysts claim that it is ‘not possible’/ ‘very difficult’ given the St. Martins island’s location, size, and topographic characteristics to build a US military base there.

THIS IS NOT TRUE, let me explain why!!

Even though St. Martins Island is small and doesn’t have much land, it is in a very strategic location because it is near the Bay of Bengal, which is a major trade route. The island also in a close proximity of Matarbari deep-sea port where US ships could be based.
Also, the location of the island would give the US a number of benefits, such as:

1. Being able to keep an eye on ships and submarines in the Bay of Bengal

2. Having the power to get more access into the Indian Ocean region.

3. An to contain Chinese Navy presence in the region for greater geopolitical ambition in the Indo-Pacific

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the Awami League does not believe in power which requires compromising the sovereignty of the country and its people. “I don’t want to return to power by leasing St Martin’s Island,” she said on Wednesday (21 June) while addressing the press about the outcome of her recent visits to Switzerland and Qatar.

However, there are some problems with building a military base on St. Martins Island, but they are not impossible to solve. If the US spent enough dollar, which it prints at home, it could build a base on the island that would help it reach its military goals in the area.

Here are some specific reasons against what western analysts have said:

Distance: Pro-western analysts say that St. Martins Island is too far away and alone to be a good place for a military base. But the island is only about 100 kilometres from Bangladesh’s coast and is easy to get to by air and sea. It is not even a distance to most of the US Navy ships.

Size: Those pro-western analysts say that St. Martins Island is too small to support a big military base. But the island is about 7 square kilometers, which is about the same size as many military sites around the world.

Geography: The pro-western experts say that the island’s geography and topography makes it too difficult to build a military base there. But the island is mostly flat, with only a few small hills that would not make it hard to build on, even including a runway.

Thanks for reading!

Rajeev Ahmed, Geopolitcal Analyst, Strategic Thinker and the Editor at geopolits.com