India calls for decisive BIMSTEC cooperation security

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday called for stronger regional cooperation among BIMSTEC member states to address evolving security challenges, saying the current global environment marked by conflicts, geopolitical uncertainties and rapid technological changes demands urgent collective action. Addressing the fifth BIMSTEC National Security Advisers’ Meeting in New Delhi, Doval stressed that member countries must work together to safeguard regional peace, stability and prosperity. “In this setting, there’s an urgent need for us to collaborate, take decisive actions for our mutual benefit, and find solutions through mutual discussions and deliberations to the vexed problems that we are all facing,” he added. Doval said, "For India, BIMSTEC represents our vision of Neighborhood First, our commitment to Act East Policy, and the SAGAR vision, which stands for mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions>" . "BIMSTEC brings together the most significant and vibrant regions of the Indian Ocean. We are home to 1.7 billion people, almost 22% of the world population, with a combined GDP  of nearly US$ 5 trillion. We 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 bonds," he said.

#WATCH | Delhi | Speaking at BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Security Summit, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval says, "Disruptions in global supply chains have resulted in economic hardship for all our countries.… pic.twitter.com/j4MsS0qUvH

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2026

The meeting, hosted by India, brought together top intelligence and security officials from the seven member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.Nepal was represented by Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha, Thailand by National Security Council Secretary General Chatchai Bangchaud, Sri Lanka by Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, Bangladesh by Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Shamsul Islam, Myanmar by Minister in the President’s Office Tin Aung San, and Bhutan by Home Secretary Sonam Wangyel. BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey also attended the meeting.