About BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise:
- It is the inaugural maritime security exercise of BIMSTEC.
- It aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and enhance regional security among member states.
- Participating Countries: The exercise brings together Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
- Focus: The exercise seeks to translate the regional grouping’s vision into practical cooperation through enhanced operational coordination and stronger maritime security mechanisms.
- The exercise underscores BIMSTEC members’ commitment to maintaining a secure, open and inclusive maritime domain, reflecting the shared vision of “Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity” and promoting peace, stability and sustainable development across the region.
Key Facts about BIMSTEC:
- The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a grouping of seven Member States lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal.
- The organization came into existence in 1997 through the ‘Bangkok Declaration’.
- Members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.
- Historical Background
- It was formed as BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation) in 1997.
- It was renamed to BIMST-EC with the addition of Myanmar in 1998.
- It was fully transformed into BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) in 2004.
- Objectives: To strengthen technical and economic cooperation among its seven member nations situated around the Bay of Bengal.
- BIMSTEC Working Mechanism: It organizes intergovernmental interactions through Summits (held once in 2 years), Ministerial Meetings (Convened annually), Senior Officials Meetings (held twice a year).
- Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
