“The BIMSTEC, which came into existence in 1997, comprises seven countries lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The bloc brings together 1.73 billion people and has a combined GDP of a little over $5 trillion.”
“The regional grouping is unique because it links five South Asian countries and two Southeast Asian countries. This makes it India’s most important bridge between South Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc.”
“The adoption of the HADR [Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief] guidelines and principles governing maritime law enforcement interactions indicates that BIMSTEC is gradually moving beyond dialogue towards operational cooperation.”
“These measures are especially relevant because the Bay of Bengal is increasingly witnessing more naval deployments, coast guard operations and commercial shipping.”
“The Bay of Bengal is no longer merely a regional water body. It has become the maritime junction connecting the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Strait of Malacca, and the South China Sea.”
“China today enjoys substantial strategic or economic influence in Bangladesh, Myanmar Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Thailand. Chinese investments include ports, highways, economic corridors, digital infrastructure, and energy projects…”
See also: BIMSTEC Adopts Maritime Security Cooperation Framework
“Maritime security featured prominently during Doval’s meeting with Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.), reflecting growing security concerns across the Indian Ocean.”
“Doval also met Brig General (Retd.) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, Defence Adviser to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, to discuss continuing security cooperation between the two countries.”
“The meeting comes ahead of India’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit next month and the BRICS Leaders’ Summit, which India will host in September.”
https://stratnewsglobal.com/india/bimstec-adopts-maritime-security-cooperation-framework/