India has taken a prominent role in enhancing regional security cooperation by assuming leadership in security sector collaboration within the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), according to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday.
This development was highlighted during the Senior Officials' Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, where preparations were made for the upcoming 4th Meeting of the organisation’s National Security Chiefs.
BIMSTEC nations align on economic and development goals, but their diverse social and cultural tapestries call for deeper cross-cultural engagement and a shared sense of purpose, retired rear admiral Mohammad Khaled Iqbal, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University told Sputnik India.
The Admiral highlighted that regional connectivity is crucial, stressing the “need to enhance interconnected trade, commerce, and regional economy.”
BIMSTEC region's geographic and geostrategic limitations mean that shifts in the broader geostrategic landscape — such as developments in the Indo-Pacific, QUAD, the Belt and Road Initiative, or rivalries among major powers — will create ripples across the region, Iqbal noted.
Therefore, he emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to challenges, ensuring that national interests are considered, for addressing different issues, including the Rohingya crisis, is crucial for making future cooperation of the initiative effective.
India, as a major player, “should recognize that other BIMSTEC countries might seek their own economic interests and forge parallel alliances”, in order to navigate trade-offs with global economic powers and diverse markets to ensure their survival, Iqbal argued.
Meanwhile, smaller countries could play a role in enhancing India’s relationships with its strategic rivals, the admiral emphasised.
Maritime security challenges such as narco-terrorism, piracy, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, smuggling, and environmental, climate, and natural disaster issues are inherently transboundary, Iqbal contended.
It is therefore essential to implement comprehensive and integrated maritime security measures, counterterrorism, port state controls, shipping alliances, and disaster management, focusing on cooperative security and a unified approach, he stressed.
How Can BIMSTEC Counter Western Influence?
The civil unrest and various issue-driven movements can escalate significantly, potentially leading to terrorism, extremism and foreign interference, which might “involve sabotage and subversive actions, to impact regional security, trade, and economic conditions,” Iqbal pointed out.
Therefore, Iqbal believes that it is crucial for major countries involved in BIMSTEC to focus on upholding democratic practices, because Western nations might exploit internal issues to create instability in the region, he emphasised.
Extremism seizes opportunities to infiltrate and create disturbances, and the situation is often worsened by crises like food shortages, the expert stated. Which is why all the groups’ countries should embrace good governance, democratic principles, and best practices, while fostering mutual respect, understanding public needs, and ensuring freedom of expression without oppression, he said.
Internal turmoil in Myanmar and Bangladesh could certainly impact security collaboration within the organisation by diverting the attention of member nations, said retired captain Sarabjeet S Parmar, Distinguished Fellow at the United Service Institution told Sputnik India.
Cooperation must uphold the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, and non-interference in internal affairs according to Article 2 of the BIMSTEC Charter signed in 2022, Parmar argued.
This principle of non-aggression and mutual respect restricts member states, including India, from meddling in each other's domestic issues, with aid being offered only when directly requested, Parmar reckoned.
BIMSTEC's Security Structure and India's Regional Vision
India oversees the security sector in BIMSTEC, managing three main areas — counter-terrorism, energy, and disaster management — leading two sub-groups and working with Thailand and Myanmar on the others, the Captain stated.
This structure aligns with India's broader security vision, reflected in initiatives like SAGAR, ASEAN, and Indo-Pacific policies, all aimed at enhancing stability and peace in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, the expert highlighted.
While the group focuses on “the Bay of Bengal and does not extend its influence beyond, its member nations, individually, can contribute to wider regional security efforts,” the Captain pointed out.
Myanmar leads the subgroup on preventing illicit trafficking of narcotics and precursor chemicals among elite shepherd nations, and managing these responsibilities presents significant challenges, according to Parmar.
Parmar noted that while Pakistan “engages in UNODC-funded initiatives, it is also accused of acting as a transit hub for illicit trafficking, underscoring the disparity between theoretical frameworks and actual on-ground conditions.”
However, to address the given challenges, member nations must resolve internal issues before engaging in regional cooperation, as effective frameworks like BIMSTEC and IORA rely on both internal reforms and collective efforts, the captain stated.
Although the two organisations share some members, BIMSTEC’s more limited membership can cause stagnation in its cooperation.
Meanwhile, its emphasis on the Bay of Bengal makes its role crucial for India, which needs to take a leading position; otherwise, those frameworks risk stagnation without strong leadership, Parmar underlined.
As a leading member, India is expected to contribute by building trust and confidence, establishing centres of excellence, addressing trade imbalances, genuinely supporting BIMSTEC countries in global forums and forming strategic alliances, the admiral concluded.