Ajit Doval Hosts 5th BIMSTEC Security Chiefs’ Meeting in Delhi, Members Adopt Landmark Maritime Security Guidelines
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval chaired the 5th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs’ Meeting in New Delhi, bringing together National Security Advisers and senior security officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand to strengthen regional cooperation against evolving security threats. The meeting concluded with the adoption of key maritime security guidelines aimed at improving coordination, law enforcement and humanitarian response across the Bay of Bengal region.
Addressing the gathering, Doval underlined that the Bay of Bengal region is facing increasingly complex security challenges, including terrorism, cyberattacks, organised crime, maritime threats and disruptions to global supply chains. He stressed that these challenges cannot be addressed by individual countries alone and called for greater collaboration, intelligence-sharing and practical cooperation among BIMSTEC member states.
A major outcome of the meeting was the adoption of guidelines for the maritime component of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The framework is designed to improve coordination among member countries during natural disasters, maritime emergencies and humanitarian crises. Delegates also endorsed guiding principles for maritime law enforcement agencies, intended to ensure safer, more predictable and cooperative interactions at sea while strengthening regional maritime governance.
The security chiefs held detailed discussions on a broad range of regional concerns, including counter-terrorism, transnational organised crime, cyber security, maritime security, energy security, disaster management and regional connectivity. They also exchanged views on emerging security challenges affecting the Indo-Pacific and the wider Bay of Bengal region, reaffirming the need for practical, outcome-oriented cooperation rather than purely declaratory commitments.
During the meeting, the BIMSTEC Secretary General presented a progress report on the organisation’s security cooperation initiatives. Member states reviewed ongoing collaborative mechanisms and discussed ways to accelerate implementation of existing agreements, particularly in areas involving intelligence sharing, capacity building and coordinated responses to cross-border threats.
The meeting also highlighted BIMSTEC’s growing strategic importance as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. With the Bay of Bengal emerging as a critical hub for global trade and maritime connectivity, participants emphasised that enhanced regional security cooperation is essential to safeguarding shipping lanes, economic stability and disaster resilience.
Officials described the adoption of the new maritime guidelines as a significant institutional step for BIMSTEC. The framework is expected to facilitate smoother cooperation among naval, coast guard and maritime law enforcement agencies while improving interoperability during search-and-rescue missions, humanitarian operations and maritime security incidents.
The New Delhi meeting reaffirmed the member countries’ commitment to deepening regional security cooperation through regular dialogue and coordinated action. As geopolitical competition and non-traditional security threats continue to grow in the Indo-Pacific, the decisions taken at the fifth BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs’ Meeting are expected to strengthen the organisation’s role as an important regional security platform and reinforce collective efforts to maintain peace, stability and resilience in the Bay of Bengal.
