Kathmandu. A senior US lawmaker has described the ongoing political transitions in Nepal and Bangladesh as a “new chapter” for American engagement in South Asia, following recent uprisings that led to government changes in both countries.
Speaking at the opening session of a congressional hearing on US foreign policy in South Asia, US Representative Bill Huizenga of Michigan, who chairs the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, said elections in Nepal and Bangladesh offer fresh opportunities to shape future relations with emerging governments. Bangladesh held its first general election after the 2024 uprising, while Nepal is set to hold elections on Falgun 21.
Huizenga noted that both countries are undergoing significant political transformation and that youth-led movements played a decisive role in reshaping their governments. “Both of these events present new chapters for engagement in South Asia that will define American relations with these new governments,” he said.
Describing South and Central Asia as a dynamic region of nearly two billion people, Huizenga said the young and growing population is increasingly drawn to Western values rather than what he termed China’s “authoritarian” model. He emphasized that the region’s vibrant economies and strategic waterways are critical to the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
He also underlined the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, calling it one of the busiest sea lanes in the world and a lifeline for global trade and energy supplies, including more than 80 percent of global seaborne oil shipments. Maintaining a “free and open Indian Ocean,” he said, is a priority for US national and economic security.
Huizenga accused China of pursuing “predatory lending” practices to expand its security interests and trap smaller nations in debt, adding that Beijing has strengthened its strategic posture along borders with India, Nepal and Bhutan. He stressed that enhanced naval cooperation with regional partners would help counter China’s growing influence and curb what he described as “malign behavior.”
Highlighting the strategic value of the US military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Huizenga said maintaining a strong American presence in the region would deter Chinese pressure, combat piracy and safeguard global trade routes. He identified India as a key strategic partner, describing it as the world’s largest democracy and one of the fastest-growing major economies.
Huizenga also referenced recent trade agreements brokered by US President Donald Trump, including a new trade deal with India that reportedly sets tariff rates at 18 percent and expands US energy exports to Delhi. The United States has also signed a trade agreement with Bangladesh. Strengthening defense cooperation, trade ties and technological partnerships with India, he said, would advance shared strategic interests in the region.
