Highlighting Bangladesh’s interest-driven foreign policy approach, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday said Dhaka’s relationship with one country is not a zero-sum game in the context of its ties with another.

“Improving relations with one does not mean that relations with another are deteriorating. We have relations not just with one country, but with many countries. This is not like a fight between co-wives. This is an interest-based relationship. Wherever our interests lie, we will go there,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Referring to the visit of US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, Dr Khalilur described it as "exploratory," saying the envoy would seek a broader understanding of Bangladesh.

“He will want to understand Bangladesh. He will speak not only with us but also with many other stakeholders,” he said.

Dr Khalilur said Gor is expected to visit the Rohingya camps and noted that the United States remains the largest international contributor to the Rohingya humanitarian response.

The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh-US relations are multidimensional and that both sides want to advance the partnership further.

Asked whether Bangladesh expected any pressure from Washington regarding the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), he said, “We do not feel any kind of pressure.”

“We will never strengthen relations with one country at the expense of another. We seek to strengthen our relations with all countries while protecting and advancing Bangladesh’s national interests,” Dr Khalilur added.

He said Bangladesh had a” successful" engagement with China during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to Beijing and would similarly hope for a successful outcome if the Prime Minister visits India.

The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh maintains relations with many countries and will continue to pursue those ties based on its national interests.

Bangladesh expressed optimism that the upcoming visit of Gor would help strengthen relations between Bangladesh and the United States while opening up new areas of cooperation.

“The relationship between Bangladesh and the US has always been good, and that relationship is becoming stronger under the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said recently, expressing hope that the visit would add a new dimension to bilateral relations.

Gor will meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and exchange views with leaders of political parties, professionals, and representatives of civil society.

“We believe that any high-level US visit will further deepen relations between Bangladesh and the US. We hope that our multidimensional relations will move forward through this visit,” Shama Obaed told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently.

The State Minister said she hoped issues related to expanding cooperation in various areas, including trade, economic diplomacy, and people-to-people contacts, would come up for discussion.

Sergio Gor currently serves as the US Ambassador to India. Earlier, Ambassador Gor served as Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House. Under his leadership, thousands of political appointees across the federal government were hired in record time.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently met Dr Khalilur on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila.

Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir and Sergio Gor were present during the meeting. Both sides discussed ways to further enhance Bangladesh-US bilateral relations.

Secretary Rubio congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur on his election as president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

The Bangladesh Foreign Minister extended an invitation to the US Secretary of State to visit Bangladesh.