The first BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal. The initiative, announced by India at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand, aims to improve maritime coordination and regional security, strengthening BIMSTEC Maritime Security Cooperation and Bay of Bengal Maritime Security.
About the Exercise
- Participants: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, collectively representing the BIMSTEC Countries.
- Objective: Strengthen cooperation, operational coordination and maritime security preparedness.
- Theme: Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity.
- Significance: Promotes collective responsibility for a peaceful, secure and inclusive maritime region through Maritime Cooperation in Bay of Bengal.
- The exercise marks an important development in BIMSTEC Maritime Exercise 2026 and regional maritime cooperation.
About BIMSTEC
- Full form: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
- Established: 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
- Headquarters: Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Members: Seven countries connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia.
- Objective: Promote economic, technical and regional cooperation through BIMSTEC Regional Cooperation.
- BIMSTEC provides an important platform for India and BIMSTEC engagement between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Strategic Importance for India
- Maritime security: Helps address piracy, smuggling and illegal fishing and strengthens Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean.
- Disaster management: Encourages cooperation during cyclones and maritime emergencies.
- Regional connectivity: Supports trade and secure sea routes.
- Foreign policy: Strengthens India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East and MAHASAGAR approaches.
- Regional security: Enhances India’s role in promoting stability and cooperation across the Bay of Bengal.
Challenges
- Challenges: Unequal maritime capabilities, political differences and limited coordination.
- Way forward: Conduct regular exercises, share maritime information, strengthen coastal surveillance and develop joint disaster-response mechanisms.
- Greater coordination with Indian Navy Maritime Exercises can further improve regional preparedness and maritime interoperability.
Conclusion
The BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise can transform regional cooperation into collective maritime security, strengthening the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, BIMSTEC Maritime Security Cooperation, Regional Security in South Asia, BIMSTEC UPSC and International Relations UPSC perspectives.
