BIMSTEC Strengthens Regional Maritime Security Cooperation

Context

At a recent meeting of National Security Advisers (NSAs) of BIMSTEC member countries held in New Delhi, member nations adopted a set of common guiding principles for maritime law enforcement and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The initiative reflects the grouping’s increasing emphasis on strengthening regional security, maritime cooperation, disaster preparedness, and coordinated responses to emerging challenges in the Bay of Bengal region.

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)

Overview

  • BIMSTEC is a regional organization established to promote economic integration, technical cooperation, connectivity, and sustainable development among countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal.
  • Established: 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
  • Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • It represents nearly 22% of the global population (around 1.7 billion people) and a combined economy of about US$3.8 trillion.
  • The organization serves as a strategic bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Member Countries

The seven BIMSTEC member nations are:

South Asian Members

  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • India
  • Nepal
  • Sri Lanka

Southeast Asian Members

  • Myanmar
  • Thailand

These countries share common ecological, maritime, economic, and strategic interests linked to the Bay of Bengal.

Major Areas of Cooperation

BIMSTEC promotes collaboration across several priority sectors, including:

  • Trade and Investment
  • Transport and Connectivity
  • Energy Cooperation
  • Science, Technology and Innovation
  • Agriculture and Food Security
  • Fisheries and Blue Economy
  • Tourism
  • Public Health
  • Disaster Management
  • Climate Cooperation

Importance of BIMSTEC

Alternative Regional Platform

With SAARC facing prolonged political challenges, BIMSTEC has emerged as an effective platform for regional cooperation without major political deadlocks.

Supports India’s Foreign Policy

BIMSTEC complements India’s:

  • Neighbourhood First Policy
  • Act East Policy
  • Indo-Pacific Vision

It also improves connectivity between India’s North-Eastern states and Southeast Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Enhances Maritime Security

The Bay of Bengal has become strategically important due to increasing trade, shipping, piracy concerns, illegal fishing, and geopolitical competition.

BIMSTEC promotes cooperation in:

  • Maritime domain awareness
  • Coastal security
  • Search and rescue operations
  • Maritime law enforcement
  • Disaster response

Boosts Regional Trade

The proposed BIMSTEC Free Trade Area (FTA) aims to:

  • Reduce tariffs
  • Increase intra-regional trade
  • Strengthen regional value chains
  • Improve investment flows

Promotes Connectivity

The grouping is developing:

  • Road connectivity
  • Rail links
  • Coastal shipping
  • Port connectivity
  • Digital connectivity
  • Energy grids

Important projects include:

  • India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway
  • Coastal Shipping Agreement
  • Motor Vehicles Agreement

Strengthens Disaster Management

The Bay of Bengal is highly vulnerable to:

  • Cyclones
  • Floods
  • Tsunamis
  • Storm surges

BIMSTEC promotes joint disaster preparedness through:

  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
  • Early warning systems
  • Capacity building
  • Climate cooperation

India hosts the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate at Noida.

Promotes Strategic Balance in the Indo-Pacific

BIMSTEC provides member countries with an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation and maintain a balanced strategic environment amid growing geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific.

Challenges Before BIMSTEC

Slow Progress on Free Trade Agreement

Although negotiations for the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area started in 2004, agreements relating to goods, services, and investments are still incomplete.

Poor Connectivity

Several flagship projects have progressed slowly because of:

  • Regulatory differences
  • Security concerns
  • Financial constraints
  • Administrative delays

Examples include:

  • Motor Vehicles Agreement
  • Coastal Shipping Agreement

Weak Institutional Capacity

Although the Secretariat was established in Dhaka in 2014, it continues to face:

  • Limited financial resources
  • Shortage of staff
  • Restricted operational powers

Lack of Dispute Resolution Mechanism

Unlike ASEAN, BIMSTEC does not have a formal institutional framework to resolve disputes, affecting timely implementation of decisions.

Regional Asymmetry

India is the largest economy in BIMSTEC.

Some smaller member countries occasionally express concerns regarding:

  • Unequal benefits
  • Dominance by larger members
  • Balancing national interests

Diverse Strategic Priorities

Member countries maintain different geopolitical alignments.

For example:

  • Myanmar and Thailand have close engagement with ASEAN.
  • Nepal and Sri Lanka often balance relations between India and China.

Political Instability

Internal political developments have slowed regional projects, particularly:

  • Civil conflict in Myanmar
  • Political transition in Bangladesh

These have affected projects like the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway.

Emerging Security Threats

The region faces growing challenges such as:

  • Cybercrime
  • Terrorism
  • Human trafficking
  • Illegal fishing
  • Maritime crime

These require greater intelligence sharing and coordinated security cooperation.

Climate Vulnerability

The Bay of Bengal remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions.

Despite progress, BIMSTEC still lacks a comprehensive regional disaster response mechanism.

Way Forward

Complete the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement

Concluding negotiations on trade in goods, services, and investments will significantly strengthen regional economic integration.

Strengthen the Secretariat

Providing greater funding, technical expertise, and decision-making authority will improve implementation and monitoring of regional initiatives.

Accelerate Connectivity Projects

Priority should be given to:

  • Multi-modal transport corridors
  • Coastal shipping
  • Customs harmonisation
  • Digital public infrastructure
  • Energy connectivity

Institutionalise Regular Engagement

Regular:

  • Annual Summits
  • Ministerial Meetings
  • Business Forums
  • Security Dialogues

will improve coordination and implementation.

Enhance Maritime and Security Cooperation

Member countries should expand cooperation in:

  • Maritime surveillance
  • Intelligence sharing
  • Cybersecurity
  • Counter-terrorism
  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)

Strengthen Climate Resilience

Developing a coordinated regional framework for:

  • Disaster risk reduction
  • Early warning systems
  • Climate adaptation
  • Sustainable Blue Economy

will improve the resilience of the Bay of Bengal region against future environmental and security challenges.

Source : The Indian Express

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