What is BIMSTEC, and why is it in focus ahead of its 30th anniversary?

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 3- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Introduction

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is emerging as an important regional platform as it approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027. The organisation is expanding cooperation to address terrorism, organised crime, cyber threats, maritime security and disaster management. Its growing focus on regional security was highlighted at the Fifth BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs’ Meeting, where member countries discussed measures to strengthen cooperation against both traditional and emerging security challenges.

What is BIMSTEC?

1. Regional Organisation: BIMSTEC stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. It brings together countries connected by the Bay of Bengal and acts as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
2. Member Countries: The organisation has seven members—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
3. Evolution of the Grouping: The organisation began as BIST-EC in 1997 with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It became BIMST-EC after Myanmar joined and was renamed BIMSTEC in 2004 after Nepal and Bhutan became members.
4. Renewed Momentum: The grouping remained largely inactive for many years. It gained fresh momentum after 2016, when India increased its engagement following the Uri terrorist attack and the boycott of the SAARC Summit in Islamabad.

Why was BIMSTEC Established?

1. Bridge Between Two Regions: BIMSTEC provides a common platform where countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia can work together on shared regional issues.
2. Alternative to SAARC: With SAARC remaining largely inactive, BIMSTEC has emerged as an important platform for regional cooperation among neighbouring countries.
3. Supporting Landlocked Members: Nepal and Bhutan can benefit from better access to the Bay of Bengal through stronger regional connectivity with other BIMSTEC members.
4. Shared Regional Interests: The grouping allows members to cooperate in areas such as connectivity, security, economic development and disaster management, which affect all countries around the Bay of Bengal.

Why is BIMSTEC Strategically Important?

1. Addressing Common Security Threats: BIMSTEC provides a platform to tackle terrorism, transnational organised crime, cyber security and maritime security through regional cooperation.
2. Regional Significance: BIMSTEC connects South and Southeast Asia and represents about 1.7 billion people, nearly 22% of the world’s population, with a combined GDP of about $5 trillion.
3. Maritime Importance: The Bay of Bengal is an important route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Cooperation through BIMSTEC can improve maritime safety, freedom of navigation and better use of the Bay’s natural resources.
4. Economic Potential: BIMSTEC represents around 1.7 billion people, nearly 22% of the world’s population, with a combined GDP of about $5 trillion, making it an economically significant regional grouping..
5. Managing Future Risks: The organisation provides a platform for members to respond together to challenges created by climate change, pandemics and global conflicts, which affect regional stability and economic resilience.
6. Supporting India’s Northeast: Better connectivity with Bangladesh and Myanmar can improve development in India’s Northeast. Projects such as the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kolkata–Siliguri–Guwahati–Imphal link support this objective.
7. Closer Engagement with ASEAN: Stronger cooperation with Thailand and Myanmar can improve India’s engagement with ASEAN. The BIMSTEC Connectivity Master Plan also complements the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity 2025.
8. Strategic Balance in the Region: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has expanded infrastructure investment across most BIMSTEC countries except India and Bhutan. BIMSTEC gives India an alternative platform to promote regional connectivity and present the Bay of Bengal as an open and peaceful region.

Why is BIMSTEC in Focus Ahead of its 30th Anniversary?

1. National Security Chiefs’ Meeting: India hosted the Fifth BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs’ Meeting in New Delhi under the leadership of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Senior security officials from all seven member countries participated.
2. New Maritime Cooperation Framework: Member countries adopted common guidelines for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and guiding principles for interactions between maritime law enforcement agencies at sea.
3. Improving Disaster Response: The new HADR guidelines aim to make disaster response faster, better coordinated and more effective during natural disasters and emergencies.
4. Safer Maritime Operations: The guiding principles for maritime law enforcement agencies will improve operational coordination and make interactions at sea more predictable and safer.
5. Expanding Security Agenda: Members agreed to deepen cooperation against terrorism, organised crime, cyber threats, maritime security and energy security. They also discussed regional connectivity, disaster response and other emerging security challenges.
6. Need for Regional Cooperation: The meeting recognised that geopolitical conflicts, supply-chain disruptions, technological threats and economic stress require closer cooperation among member countries.
7. Progress in Institutional Capacity: BIMSTEC reviewed progress in counter-terrorism, disaster management and institutional capacity building, showing the organisation’s expanding security agenda.
8. India’s Regional Vision: India described BIMSTEC as an important pillar of its Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy and MAHASAGAR vision, placing regional security, connectivity, economic resilience and capacity building at the centre of future cooperation.

Challenges Before BIMSTEC

1. Regional Political Tensions: Disputes between Bangladesh and Myanmar and tensions between India and Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina’s removal have affected regional cooperation.
2. Myanmar Crisis: The continuing civil war in Myanmar has reduced its role as a land bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
3. Pending Regional Agreements: Important agreements such as the Free Trade Agreement, Coastal Shipping Agreement and Motor Vehicles Agreement have remained unresolved despite repeated negotiations.
4. Slow Institutional Progress: BIMSTEC has often progressed slowly. It even took around 17 years to establish a permanent secretariat.
5. Limited Multilateral Focus: Member countries have generally given greater importance to bilateral relations, slowing the growth of stronger regional cooperation.
6. Concerns Over India’s Role: Some members have raised concerns that India plays a dominant role while the interests of smaller countries do not always receive equal attention.
7. Competing Regional Priorities: Myanmar and Thailand continue to focus strongly on ASEAN, reducing the attention given to BIMSTEC.
8. Resource Constraints: Limited financial and human resources continue to affect the organisation’s functioning, even though India contributes about 32% of the annual budget.

Way Forward

1. Strengthen Economic Integration: Member countries should increase intra-BIMSTEC trade, build regional supply chains and improve economic cooperation to reduce external vulnerabilities.
2. Improve Disaster Preparedness: Members should strengthen disaster cooperation, and India should encourage them to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
3. Enhance Security Cooperation: Countries should complete the remaining legal framework that allows law enforcement agencies to cooperate more effectively against terrorism, organised crime, violent extremism and cyber-attacks.
4. Build Stronger Regional Institutions: BIMSTEC should develop stronger collective institutional capacity while protecting the interests of all member countries through balanced regional cooperation.
5. Promote Equal Partnership: India should continue working as an equal and trusted partner so that all member countries feel greater ownership of the organisation.
6. Accelerate Connectivity Projects: Faster implementation of pending connectivity projects can improve trade, mobility and regional integration across the Bay of Bengal.

Conclusion

As BIMSTEC approaches its 30th anniversary, it is becoming a stronger platform for regional cooperation in security, connectivity and disaster management. Recent initiatives show the members’ commitment to deeper collaboration. Addressing institutional and political challenges while strengthening coordination can help BIMSTEC become a more effective and result-oriented organisation for the Bay of Bengal region.

Question for practice:

Discuss the significance of BIMSTEC and explain why it is in focus ahead of its 30th anniversary.

Source: Indian Express