Questions That Sergio Gor Left Behind

Sergio Gor has Uzbek blood, but he has Americanised his name by cutting off his Uzbek ancestry. Many Bangladesh-born Americans also do this, but Sergio Gor’s subsequent success in American society and politics proved that Shakespeare was wrong: Americanisation matters. Sergio Gor, a former close aide to Donald Trump Jr., a key part of Trump’s presidential campaign, and most recently the director of the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office, is no less a key policymaker in the Trump administration. Therefore, his first visit to Bangladesh cannot be considered just an introductory visit; with good reason, every detail of the trip has been closely watched by the political community.

Now, let us see what takeaways we could pick up from the visit. As usual, the Special Envoy met Bangladesh’s foreign minister and paid a courtesy call on the prime minister. He did not have any press conference, but talked a few words with the waiting journalists after his call on the prime minister. Even his X handle contains only pleasantries, nothing substantive. The press release of the US embassy in Dhaka also has formal lines, nothing deep. Bangladesh’s foreign minister, on the other hand, spoke to the press, but instead of providing the exact info, he chose to bluntly dismiss the sensitive questions and suggested that Gor’s visit was routine and limited to bilateral relations focused solely on trade and investment. Too much silence breeds suspicion. Staying silent makes you guilty. Under the circumstances, it is assumed that either Sergio Gor just had a familiarisation trip, or went so deep that it made everyone seal-taped. The circumstances suggested that it was the latter.

Sergio Gor went to Cox’s Bazar to visit the refugee camps. It was in his published itinerary. But while in Dhaka, he cancelled the formal dinner programme which the foreign minister had offered to host. Additionally, though he did not receive any parliamentary opposition, it is heard and believed that he met some leaders of Awami League and Jatiya Party. Nobody could confirm such meetings. Sergio Gor, in an unusual manner, met the Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh. It is learnt that immediately after the meeting, the Indian high commissioner flew to New Delhi for a brief briefing trip. And all these incidents suggested that Sergio Gor’s visit significantly signalled America’s genuine interest in many specific fronts to the present government, in particular, and to the relevant stakeholders. The grim face and the denial mood of the foreign minister during the press conference in question can now be explained.

It is reported that during his visit to the refugee camps, Sergio Gor emphasised the need for a swift political solution through coordinated efforts involving ASEAN, neighbouring countries and other stakeholders. It appeared simple at first glance, but the specific mention of the word ASEAN requires special attention. As Bangladesh has specifically requested China to mediate a viable solution for the repatriation of refugees with the central government of Myanmar, Sergio Gor’s comment may be considered a little different from Bangladesh’s position.

Bangladesh’s position is absolutely well understood. It definitely wants to get rid of the refugees. Therefore, it does not let any stone unturned. This time, it approached Malaysia too to put pressure on Myanmar. However, I think Bangladesh lags in approaching Myanmar directly, and that is making things significantly worse. A crisis of such stature may not be easy to resolve, and definitely it requires assistance from many, but direct negotiation always gives an edge over indirect efforts.

More than half of the refugee costs come from the United States. Perhaps, therefore, many people consider Myanmar refugees as a pet project of the United States. The future of the Rohingya population has become even more uncertain after the rise of the Arakan Army. Gor’s visit has not reduced that fear. Perhaps the future policy of the US on the Myanmar refugees will depend on his observation report. We will have to wait for some more time for that.

Both the government of Bangladesh and the US authorities concerned are still silent about many pieces of Sergio Gore’s overall visit. It seems that many things have been deliberately left unsaid. In addition, it is still not clear whether he met with representatives of any political party, and if so, what was discussed there. Again, why did the meeting with the Indian high commissioner take place? Since these cannot be reconciled, Sergio Gor’s visit has provided some answers but left some questions unresolved. Perhaps the answers will be revealed as we observe the dynamics of geopolitics and the undercurrents of national politics in the coming days.

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The writer is a former Bangladeshi Ambassador