On May 30, India will host one of its significant events of the year – the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an unusual move, India has extended invites to the leaders of the seven BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) nations.
This event marks another milestone in India’s regional diplomatic ties as it also welcomes Sooronbay Jeenbekov, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and Pravind Jugnauth, the Prime Minister of Mauritius. It is noteworthy that Kyrgyzstan holds the current chair of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and Mauritius is a integral part of India’s strategic plan to establish a chain of military installations in the Indian Ocean.
However, conspicuously absent from the list of invitees is the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
BIMSTEC over SAARC: Strategic Shift in India’s Approach
In the previous swearing-in ceremony, all SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries were invited. The shift in focus from SAARC to BIMSTEC this year traces back to the last SAARC Summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November 2016. This summit never materialized after India, along with several other countries, pulled out due to terror-related concerns.
The strained relationship with Pakistan has prompted the Indian government to sidestep the SAARC umbrella, thereby assuring Islamabad’s exclusion.
BIMSTEC includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, along with India. On the other hand, SAARC comprises of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
| Organization | Members |
|---|---|
| BIMSTEC | Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand |
| SAARC | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |
India’s Dual Policy: ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’
The invitation to BIMSTEC leaders reflects the culmination of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies in the region of the Bay of Bengal.
India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy aims at fostering improved ties with neighboring countries such that both parties feel their interests are being advanced. On the other hand, the ‘Act East’ policy focuses on extending India’s reach to the Asia-Pacific region, providing an interface between North East India, including Arunachal Pradesh, and the ASEAN region.
