BIMSTEC security chiefs adopt maritime cooperation guidelines at New Delhi meeting

New Delhi, July 16. The National Security Advisers (NSAs) and senior security officials of the seven BIMSTEC member states on July 16 adopted key guidelines to strengthen maritime cooperation and disaster response, while reaffirming their commitment to deeper collaboration in tackling evolving regional security challenges.

The decisions were taken at the 5th Meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs, hosted by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by National Security Advisers and heads of delegations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed the progress made in security cooperation within the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which connects South Asia and Southeast Asia and has steadily expanded collaboration in areas ranging from regional security and disaster management to transport, trade connectivity, technology and people-to-people exchanges.

BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey presented an overview of the organisation’s progress in the security sector and briefed member states on developments across its various areas of cooperation.

The security chiefs discussed practical measures to strengthen regional cooperation in combating terrorism and organised crime, enhancing cybersecurity, maritime and energy security, improving connectivity, facilitating effective disaster management and addressing emerging security threats.

A key outcome of the meeting was the adoption of guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). The guidelines are expected to enable BIMSTEC member states to undertake coordinated maritime relief operations more swiftly and efficiently during natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.

The member states also endorsed a set of guiding principles governing interactions among maritime law enforcement agencies at sea, aimed at promoting predictability, enhancing safety and reducing the risk of misunderstandings during maritime engagements.

As BIMSTEC prepares to mark its 30th anniversary in 2027, the participating National Security Advisers reiterated their commitment to expanding cooperation and knowledge-sharing to strengthen regional security, build resilience and enhance institutional capacities to respond effectively to both traditional and emerging security challenges.

The meeting underscored BIMSTEC’s growing role as a regional platform for addressing transnational security issues across the Bay of Bengal region amid an increasingly complex geopolitical and security environment.