Keshav Bhatter asked: What is the role and relevance of BIMSTEC in the context of the Indo-Pacific Region?

Temjenmeren Ao replies: There is a visible shift in political, economic and military power from the Trans-Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific region includes countries that are geographically big and small, continental powers, island nations which have varying degree of economic development, political structures, military capabilities and threat perceptions.

In recent years, China’s assertive foreign policy has led to increasing geo-political tension in the Indo-Pacific. China has used its rising military power to assert sovereignty on disputed territories and islands. While there is a collective anxiety about China’s growing influence, the region does not welcome the escalating tension between Washington and Beijing.  

Given the above geo-political context, sub-regional mechanisms such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) are becoming increasingly central to the Indo-Pacific. The BIMSTEC countries are home to around 1.6 billion people, constituting around 23 per cent of the world population, 4 per cent of the world GDP and 4.5 per cent of the world trade.

The Bay of Bengal countries are at different levels of development with different income levels. There are the three developing countries (India, Sri Lanka and Thailand) and four least developed countries (LDCs) (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar). The smaller economies in the Bay of Bengal region have managed to grow faster than the bigger economies, which is a positive sign of regional prosperity and inclusivity. Such a growth in terms of economic size has resulted in higher openness to trade, and a powerful regional partnership in the Bay of Bengal region.

As the world economy is passing through economic and political uncertainties, the BIMSTEC countries are also facing huge challenges in coping with those uncertainties. Under these circumstances, BIMSTEC provides an opportunity for like-minded countries to enhance collaboration and strengthen partnership which has become essential in this age of shared challenges such as trade protectionism, war, climate issues, and energy security, among others. Given its sheer size, geographical position, capacities and interests, BIMSTEC can play a significant role if it can effectively respond to the emerging challenges while protecting the long-term strategic and economic interests of the countries of the region. 

Views expressed are of the expert and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or the Government of India.