A senior security adviser at the US Defence Technology Security Administration (DTSA) and Bangladesh Navy Chittagong Commander Rear Admiral M Moynul Hassan met on January 27, signaling deeper cooperation between the countries on dual-use commodities and munitions items.
DTSA Senior Security Adviser Steven Barry James met Rear Adm Hassan, Commander, Chittagong Naval Area, before being taken on a tour of the Chittagong Dry Dock Ltd (CDDL) where Lieutenant Commander Zahid Mohsin Kabir made a presentation of the organisation’s overall security measures, operations, capabilities and ongoing/future projects.
While Bangladesh Navy officers were tightlipped about James’ visit, other defence sources said that since the DTSA serves as a reviewing agency for the export licensing of dual-use commodities and munitions items and provides technical and policy assessments on export license applications, it can also assess defence technologies and develops measures, in partnership with government and industry.
The DTSA aims to prevent proliferation or diversion of technology and information that could prove detrimental to US national security.
It identifies and mitigates national security risks associated with the international transfer of controlled information and advanced technology in order to maintain the American warfighter’s technological edge and support national security objectives.
Established in the mid-1980s, DTSA has the dual goal of promoting allies’ and partners’ technology security and shared perspectives, besides countering strategic competitors’ technology acquisitions and methodologies.
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DTSA helps ensure that proposed transfers of advanced US systems, equipment, and technologies are consistent with government policies and objectives regarding the appropriate level of information, technology, and capability sharing.
Bangladeshi defence sources were disinclined to share the precise goals of James’ visit and his meetings with Bangladesh Navy and CDDL officials, but other sources said he could be a security/intelligence professional with extensive knowledge and experience in security management with interest in international bilateral and multilateral cooperative, foreign military sales and direct commercial sales programmes.
Other colleagues of James at DTSA have assisted the US government in conducting on-site reviews of foreign government security programmes and the negotiation of General Security Agreements to establish their capability and intent to protect US classified information.
