BIMSTEC Security Chiefs Pledge Joint Fight Against Terrorism, Adopt Maritime Guidelines

The national security chiefs of BIMSTEC nations met in New Delhi on Thursday (July 16, 2026) and vowed to jointly combat regional security challenges, including terrorism and organised crime. The meeting, hosted by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, also endorsed new guiding principles to streamline maritime law enforcement coordination.

BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, comprises seven member states: India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. The group bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia, two vibrant regions of the Indian Ocean.

New Delhi has been driving several initiatives within BIMSTEC to strengthen regional cooperation and partnership, including in security, trade, investment, connectivity, and food and energy security.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the national security advisers and heads of delegations discussed practical and result-oriented solutions to combat terrorism and organised crime, and to ensure security in the cyber, maritime and energy domains. They also deliberated on boosting connectivity, facilitating efficient disaster management, and tackling new and emerging threats.

“They adopted guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. These guidelines will help BIMSTEC member states to undertake relief operations in the region in an expeditious manner,” the MEA said. “They also endorsed a set of guiding principles on the conduct of maritime law enforcement agencies during interactions at sea.”

The MEA added that these principles are expected to outline reference points for increasing predictability and promoting safety during maritime engagements among member states.

As BIMSTEC approaches its 30th anniversary next year, the National Security Advisers and Heads of Delegations reiterated their resolve to further enhance collaboration and knowledge-sharing towards strengthening regional security, building resilience, and enhancing institutional capacities to address diverse security threats.

At the meeting, the BIMSTEC Secretary General presented a comprehensive overview of the status of cooperation in the security sector and briefed the member states on progress across a wide range of sectors.

“Over the years, BIMSTEC has deepened cooperation in regional security, disaster management, transport and trade connectivity, technological issues, and people-to-people contacts,” the MEA said in a statement.