Navigating Indo-Pacific Waters: Maritime Governance and the Case for a Bay of Bengal Coast Guard Forum
“The southern tip of the bay is connected to the Malacca Strait, which is the transit point for $3.5 trillion worth of global trade. The strait is also a main energy lifeline for the East Asian economies, serving as a key route for energy imports from the Middle East. The security and safety of this supply chain are affected by piracy and armed robbery. According to International Maritime Bureau (IMB) statistics in 2024, straits near Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Singapore collectively accounted for 63% of global incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery.”
“Bay of Bengal Coast Guard Forum (BBCGF) could be a significant next step toward establishing a pluralistic security order in the sub-region. While a coast guard forum may not fully address complex and systemic maritime vulnerabilities such as climate change, it could be useful in institutionalizing routine enforcement procedures against IUU fishing, marine pollution, piracy, irregular migration, maritime terrorism, and drug trafficking. Moreover, the non-military nature of the coast guards would enable more effective maritime enforcement without triggering geopolitical tensions.”