NEW DELHI, July 16 (ANI): The fifth meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs, chaired by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday, reaffirmed member states’ commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation, with discussions focusing on counterterrorism, cybersecurity, maritime security, disaster management, and emerging security threats.
According to an official statement, Doval hosted National Security Advisers and heads of delegation from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
“BIMSTEC bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia, two of the most significant and vibrant regions of the Indian Ocean. Over the years, BIMSTEC has deepened cooperation in regional security, disaster management, transport and trade connectivity, technological issues, and people-to-people contacts,” the statement said.
During the meeting, BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey presented a comprehensive overview of cooperation in the security sector and briefed member states on the progress made across various areas.
The National Security Advisers and heads of delegation discussed “practical and result-oriented solutions” to combat terrorism and organized crime, strengthen security in the cyber, maritime, and energy domains, enhance connectivity, improve disaster management, and address new and emerging threats.
The member states also adopted guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), which, according to the statement, “will help BIMSTEC member states to undertake relief operations in the region in an expeditious manner.”
They also endorsed a set of guiding principles for the conduct of maritime law enforcement agencies during interactions at sea. The principles are expected to “outline reference points for increasing predictability and promoting safety during maritime engagements among member states,” the statement said.
As BIMSTEC approaches its 30th anniversary next year, the National Security Advisers and heads of delegation reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration and knowledge-sharing to enhance regional security, build resilience, and improve institutional capacities to address a broad range of security challenges.
Meanwhile, Doval underscored the need for closer regional cooperation to address evolving security challenges, saying the current global landscape—marked by conflicts, geopolitical uncertainty, and rapid technological change—requires BIMSTEC member states to work together and take “decisive actions” for their mutual benefit.
Addressing the fifth BIMSTEC National Security Advisers’ Meeting, Doval said, “We are meeting today in the backdrop of a challenging global landscape. We are witnessing conflicts and geopolitical uncertainties. We are also facing multi-domain security threats, amplified by rapid technological advancements. Disruptions in global supply chains have also resulted in economic hardship for all our countries.”
“In this setting, there’s an urgent need for us to collaborate, take decisive actions for our mutual benefit, and find solutions through mutual discussions and deliberations to the vexed problems that we are all facing,” he added.
Highlighting the significance of the Bay of Bengal regional grouping, Doval said BIMSTEC brings together two of the world’s most dynamic regions and represents a population of 1.7 billion people—about 22 percent of the global population—with a combined gross domestic product of nearly $5 trillion.
“We are united by the Bay of Bengal, not just geographically, but also through deep civilizational and cultural legacies that have evolved over a millennium of shared history,” he said.
BIMSTEC is a regional organization established on June 6, 1997, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. Initially known as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation), the organization now comprises seven member states following Myanmar’s admission in December 1997 and the accession of Bhutan and Nepal in February 2004. (ANI)
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