BIMSTEC Security Chiefs Agree on Joint Action Against Terrorism, Maritime Coordination

National security chiefs of BIMSTEC countries have pledged to work together to tackle regional security challenges and endorsed new guidelines to improve coordination among maritime law enforcement agencies. The meeting, held in New Delhi on Thursday, was hosted by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, includes India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. All member states have strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the national security advisors and heads of delegations discussed practical solutions to combat terrorism and organised crime, and to strengthen security in cyber, maritime and energy domains. They also deliberated on improving connectivity, efficient disaster management, and addressing new and emerging threats.

The meeting adopted guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. These are intended to help BIMSTEC member states carry out relief operations more quickly in the region. The delegates also endorsed a set of guiding principles for the conduct of maritime law enforcement agencies during interactions at sea. According to the MEA, these principles aim to increase predictability and promote safety during maritime engagements among member states.

As BIMSTEC approaches its 30th anniversary next year, the national security chiefs reiterated their commitment to enhancing collaboration and knowledge sharing to strengthen regional security, build resilience, and improve institutional capacities to address diverse security threats.

The BIMSTEC Secretary General presented an overview of cooperation in the security sector and briefed member states on progress across a wide range of areas.

In his address, NSA Doval stressed the need for closer regional cooperation to tackle evolving security challenges. He noted that the current global landscape, marked by conflicts, geopolitical uncertainties and technological disruptions, requires BIMSTEC member states to work together and take decisive actions for mutual benefit.

“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 through mutual discussions and deliberations to the vexed problems that we are all facing.”

Highlighting the significance of the Bay of Bengal grouping, Doval said BIMSTEC unites two of the world’s most dynamic regions and represents a population of 1.7 billion people—around 22% of the global population—with a combined GDP of nearly USD 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.

The NSA added that BIMSTEC has built strong cooperation across multiple security sectors and has made significant progress in recent years.