National security chiefs of BIMSTEC member states have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation at a meeting chaired by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval..reports Asian Lite News Desk
National security chiefs from BIMSTEC member states on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation, with discussions focusing on counter-terrorism, cyber and maritime security, disaster management and emerging threats.
The fifth Meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs was chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and attended by National Security Advisers and Heads of Delegation from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
According to an official statement, the meeting reviewed progress in regional security cooperation and explored practical measures to address evolving security challenges across the Bay of Bengal region.
“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.
BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey presented an overview of cooperation in the security sector and briefed member states on progress made across various initiatives.
The participants discussed practical and result-oriented measures to combat terrorism and organised crime, strengthen security in the cyber, maritime and energy sectors, improve regional connectivity, enhance disaster management capabilities and address emerging security threats.
The member states adopted guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), which are expected to facilitate faster and more coordinated relief operations across the region.
They also endorsed guiding principles for interactions between maritime law enforcement agencies at sea, aimed at improving predictability and promoting safety during maritime engagements among member states.
As BIMSTEC prepares to mark its 30th anniversary next year, the participating countries reiterated their commitment to expanding cooperation, sharing knowledge and strengthening institutional capacity to address common security challenges.
Addressing the meeting, Doval said the current global environment, marked by geopolitical uncertainty, conflicts and rapid technological change, underscored the need for closer regional cooperation.
“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,” Doval said.
“In this setting, there’s an urgent need for us to collaborate, take decisive actions for our mutual benefit, and find solutions to mutual discussions and deliberations to the vexed problems that we are all facing,” he added.
Highlighting BIMSTEC’s strategic importance, Doval said the grouping connects South and Southeast Asia and represents around 1.7 billion people, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of the world’s population, with a combined GDP of almost $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.
Established through the Bangkok Declaration on June 6, 1997, BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand and serves as a regional platform for cooperation across a range of sectors, including security, connectivity, trade and disaster management.
