Overview

• Macron visited Bangladesh after attending the G20 summit in India as part of France's Indo-Pacific strategy.
• He positioned France as an alternative to US and Chinese influence in the region and proposed a "third way."
• Macron secured a tentative deal for Bangladesh's national airline to purchase 10 Airbus A350 aircraft.
• The aircraft purchase marks a shift for Bangladesh away from its Boeing-dominated fleet.
• The visit highlights France's efforts to build ties with mid-sized Asian countries like Bangladesh.