First BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise Begins
Why in News?
- India is hosting the first BIMSTEC maritime security exercise at the Andaman and Nicobar Command from 30 October to 3 November 2026, The Tribune reported on 31 October.
- All seven member states, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, are taking part under the banner "Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity".
- The Ministry of Defence described the drill as a practical step towards translating vision into action.
- The BIMSTEC expert group on maritime security had agreed on 25 November 2025 in New Delhi to hold the first exercise in the second half of 2026.
Key Terminologies
- BIMSTEC
- The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. It has seven members, five from South Asia and two from South-East Asia, and came into being on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
- Andaman and Nicobar Command
- India's first integrated tri-service command, which brings the Army, Navy and Air Force under one commander. It handles maritime surveillance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue and regional engagement.
- Maritime Domain Awareness
- A clear picture of what is happening at sea, including ships, cargo, fishing boats and threats. It is built by sharing data between navies, coast guards and other agencies.
- Interoperability
- The ability of different forces to work together with common procedures and communication. An exercise tests whether crews from different countries can act as a single team.
Key Issues
- Uneven Capacity: The seven members include landlocked Bhutan and Nepal, according to the BIMSTEC Secretary General quoted by WION in April 2026. In analysis, roles in a sea drill will therefore differ widely.
- Rules Still in Draft: On 25 November 2025 the expert group finalised only draft guiding principles for the conduct of maritime law enforcement agencies and draft guidelines for coordinated marine oil spill response, according to the BIMSTEC website. Common procedures are not yet adopted.
- Consensus Rule: The Ministry of External Affairs notes that decisions in BIMSTEC are taken by consensus. Operational steps such as a white shipping agreement, which WION says is being developed, can move slowly.
- Regional Shocks: The West Asia crisis disrupted energy security, food security and supply chains across all members, according to the Secretary General in WION. Maritime security now covers trade and fuel routes as well as military threats.
- Institution Building: The BIMSTEC Charter came into force only on 20 May 2024, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The organisation is still building the habits of a regional body.
Key Implications
Positive/Pros/Merits
- Shared Practice: The Ministry of Defence lists interoperability, maritime domain awareness, better coordination and sharing of best practices as the aims, which build trust among seven coastal and neighbouring states.
- Large Region: The Ministry of External Affairs says BIMSTEC covers 1.7 billion people, 22 per cent of the world's population, with a combined GDP above US$ 5 trillion. A secure Bay of Bengal protects a large share of trade.
- Policy Fit: The Ministry of External Affairs calls BIMSTEC the meeting point of Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR. A drill at the Andaman and Nicobar Command links all three.
- Disaster Readiness: The Andaman and Nicobar Command handles search and rescue and humanitarian relief, according to The Tribune. Joint drills prepare members for cyclones and floods that cross borders.
Negative/Cons/Demerits
- Short Drill: The exercise runs only from 30 October to 3 November 2026, so it can test only basic coordination.
- Limited Disclosure: The Tribune report gives no exercise name beyond the banner and no list of ships or aircraft, so the scale of the drill is not yet clear.
- Implementation Gap: Draft guidelines, a white shipping agreement still under development and the consensus rule mean that gains from one drill may not quickly become standing practice.
Key Initiatives
- India: The Ministry of External Affairs says India leads the Security pillar of BIMSTEC, which covers counter-terrorism and transnational crime, disaster management and energy security.
- Expert Group on Maritime Security: At its fourth meeting in New Delhi on 25 November 2025, it finalised two draft documents and agreed to hold the first maritime security exercise in the second half of 2026.
- Sixth Summit: Leaders met in Bangkok on 4 April 2025, adopted the Bangkok Vision 2030, and signed the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
- India-Led Centres: At the 2025 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence in India for Disaster Management and Sustainable Maritime Transport.
- BIMSTEC: At the 2025 Summit it signed memoranda of understanding with the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Government of India says it gives high importance to BIMSTEC as the point where Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR meet, with maritime and cyber security as priorities. The BIMSTEC Secretary General has said the grouping is developing guidelines for maritime law enforcement agencies and a white shipping agreement. Bangladesh is the current Chair, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Director's Perspective
Way Forward
- Adopt the draft guiding principles for maritime law enforcement agencies at the next ministerial meeting, so that practice follows the drill.
- Conclude the white shipping agreement soon, so that members share vessel data on a routine basis.
- Make the exercise annual, with a rotating host, and add humanitarian, oil spill and search and rescue scenarios.
- Give landlocked members useful roles, such as liaison, disaster response and training seats.
- Publish a short after-action report so that the public and researchers can judge results.
The first BIMSTEC maritime exercise is a modest but useful move from declarations to practice. It gives seven neighbours a common drill at India's own tri-service command, and it fits the Bangkok Vision 2030 agenda. Its limits are the short duration, the pending rules and the consensus style of decision-making. In a Mains answer, credit the move towards operational trust, then conclude that regular drills and adopted guidelines will decide whether BIMSTEC becomes a real security provider.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first BIMSTEC maritime security exercise?
The first BIMSTEC maritime security exercise is a joint drill hosted by India at the Andaman and Nicobar Command from 30 October to 3 November 2026. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are taking part, according to The Tribune.
What does the exercise aim to achieve?
The Ministry of Defence says the exercise aims to improve interoperability, sharpen maritime domain awareness, streamline coordination and share best practices among the seven BIMSTEC members. The drill is held under the banner "Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity".
Which countries are members of BIMSTEC?
BIMSTEC has seven members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The Ministry of External Affairs says five are in South Asia and two in South-East Asia, and the grouping was set up on 6 June 1997 by the Bangkok Declaration.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 BIMSTEC has seven member states.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are members.
2 The BIMSTEC Secretariat is located in New Delhi.
The Permanent Secretariat was set up in Dhaka in 2014.
3 India leads the Security pillar of BIMSTEC.
The pillar covers counter-terrorism and transnational crime, disaster management and energy security.