What is BIMSTEC, and why is it in focus ahead of its 30th anniversary?

📌 Summary:

• Ahead of BIMSTEC's 30th anniversary (2027), the Bay of Bengal grouping is deepening cooperation on security threats — terrorism, cybercrime, maritime and energy security
• At a New Delhi meeting, national security chiefs of the 7 members endorsed guiding principles for maritime law enforcement and humanitarian assistance & disaster relief (HADR) at sea
• BIMSTEC = Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation; bridges South and Southeast Asia
• Evolution: BIST-EC (1997, Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand) → BIMST-EC (Myanmar joined) → BIMSTEC (2004, +Nepal, Bhutan)
• Gained momentum after 2016 Uri attack and India's boycott of the SAARC Islamabad summit; India hosted a BIMSTEC outreach alongside the 2016 BRICS Goa summit
• With SAARC defunct (India-Pakistan freeze), BIMSTEC is the main South Asia–Southeast Asia platform; landlocked Nepal and Bhutan gain Bay of Bengal access
• 7 members = ~1.7 billion people (22% of world), combined GDP ~$5 trillion
• China factor: Belt & Road Initiative penetration in all members except Bhutan and India; BIMSTEC offers India a connectivity alternative
• Challenges: Bangladesh-Myanmar disputes, India-Dhaka tensions post-Hasina ouster, Myanmar civil war weakening its land-bridge role

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR — regional groupings, Neighbourhood First & Act East convergence, balancing China; SAARC vs BIMSTEC comparison

📝 Prelims Facts:

• BIMSTEC HQ: Dhaka, Bangladesh; 7 members (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan)
• Thailand & Myanmar are the Southeast Asian members; only grouping linking South & Southeast Asia
• Formed 1997 as BIST-EC; renamed BIMSTEC in 2004

🔑 Key Term: BIMSTEC — a regional organisation of seven Bay of Bengal littoral and adjacent states for multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation.