India hosted the 5th Meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs in New Delhi on 16th July 2026. Chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the meeting brought together National Security Advisers and Heads of Delegations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, reaffirming the seven-member grouping’s commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, discussions centred on counter-terrorism, cyber, maritime, and energy security, connectivity, disaster management, and emerging security threats. The Ministry noted that BIMSTEC “bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia, two of the most significant and vibrant regions of the Indian Ocean,” and that the grouping “has deepened cooperation in regional security, disaster management, transport and trade connectivity, technological issues, and people-to-people contacts” over the years.
BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey provided an overview of cooperation in the security sector and briefed member states on progress achieved across various pillars of the organisation. Delegations discussed what the Ministry described as “practical and result-oriented solutions” to counter terrorism and organised crime, ensure security across cyber, maritime, and energy domains, enhance connectivity, and address new and emerging threats.
Two substantive outcomes were recorded. Member states adopted guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, which the Ministry stated would help BIMSTEC countries “undertake relief operations in the region in an expeditious manner.” They also endorsed a set of guiding principles for the conduct of maritime law enforcement agencies during interactions at sea, intended to “outline reference points for increasing predictability and promoting safety during maritime engagements among member states.”
Addressing the meeting, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval described BIMSTEC as central to India’s regional engagement. Mr Doval stated that the grouping reflects the country’s strategic priorities. He said, “For India, BIMSTEC represents our vision of Neighbourhood First, our commitment to Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.”
NSA Doval also underlined the scale and significance of the grouping, noting that BIMSTEC represents approximately 1.7 billion people, roughly 22 per cent of the world’s population, with a combined GDP of nearly USD 5 trillion. He remarked that member states are “united by the Bay of Bengal, not just geographically, but also through deep civilizational and cultural legacies that have evolved over a millennium of shared history.”
The delegations were led by senior officials from across the region. Thailand’s team was headed by Chatchai Bangchaud, Secretary General of the National Security Council, who had held separate bilateral talks with Doval a day earlier, focusing on intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation. Sri Lanka was represented by Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, Secretary at the Ministry of Defence; Bangladesh by Dr Shamsul Islam, Adviser to the Prime Minister; Myanmar by Tin Aung San, Minister in the President’s Office; Bhutan by Home Secretary Sonam Wangyel; and Nepal by Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha.
With BIMSTEC approaching its thirtieth anniversary next year, the National Security Advisers and Heads of Delegations reiterated their resolve to deepen collaboration and knowledge-sharing, build regional resilience, and strengthen institutional capacities to address a widening range of security challenges. BIMSTEC was established on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration, initially as BIST-EC, before being renamed following the admission of Myanmar in December 1997 and of Bhutan and Nepal in February 2004.
This was the fifth such meeting since the format began in 2017; the previous, fourth meeting was held in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, in July 2024.
