New principles to strengthen safety during maritime engagements: Bimstec
The measures, adopted at the fifth meeting of the bloc’s national security chiefs in New Delhi, are intended to improve coordination and support faster disaster response across the Bay of Bengal region.
The fifth meeting of the Bimstec national security chiefs has endorsed a set of guiding principles aimed at strengthening safety and predictability during interactions at sea involving maritime law enforcement agencies.
The principles are expected to serve as reference points for promoting safer and more predictable maritime engagements among Bimstec member states, the organisation's headquarters said in a statement today (19 July).
The meeting, held recently in New Delhi, also adopted Bimstec guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to help member states carry out relief operations across the region more swiftly.
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India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval hosted and chaired the meeting, which was attended by national security advisers or heads of delegations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Bimstec Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey presented an overview of progress in regional security cooperation since the previous meeting, highlighting efforts to address traditional, non-traditional and emerging security challenges.
He stressed the need for the timely implementation of agreed initiatives, stronger coordination and information-sharing, greater knowledge-sharing, and continued capacity-building among relevant organisations in member states.
The national security advisers and heads of delegations exchanged views on combating terrorism and organised crime, strengthening security in the cyber, maritime, and energy sectors, enhancing connectivity, improving disaster management, and addressing emerging security threats.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Pandey held separate bilateral meetings with India's national security adviser, Nepal's home secretary, and Sri Lanka's defence secretary to discuss issues of mutual interest and ways to strengthen cooperation under the Bimstec framework.
As Bimstec marks its 30th anniversary this year, the participating countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepen regional cooperation, strengthen security, build resilience, and enhance institutional capacity to address evolving security challenges.
Bimstec comprises seven Bay of Bengal countries -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
