Do you think BIMSTEC is a paraller organisation like SAARC? What are the similarities and dissimilarities between the two? How are the Indian foreign policy objectives realised by forming this new organisation?

 

UPSC CSE Main Paper 2.  2022.

BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation and comprises seven countries: **Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.

SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and comprises eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

BIMSTEC is seen as a bridge between SAARC and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), as it connects South Asia with Southeast Asia. SAARC is a purely regional organisation that focuses on South Asia.

BIMSTEC is considered as a viable alternative to SAARC, as the latter has been hampered by political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have prevented regional cooperation and integration. The last SAARC summit was held in 2014 and the 19th summit scheduled for 2016 was suspended indefinitely.

BIMSTEC and SAARC have some similarities, such as overlapping membership (five countries are common to both), similar objectives of promoting economic and social development, and similar areas of cooperation, such as trade, tourism, energy, environment, etc.

BIMSTEC and SAARC also have some dissimilarities, such as different geographical scopes (BIMSTEC covers the Bay of Bengal region while SAARC covers the entire South Asia), different levels of economic development (BIMSTEC has more diversity in terms of GDP per capita and human development index than SAARC), and different institutional mechanisms (BIMSTEC has a leaner structure with a secretariat in Dhaka while SAARC has a more elaborate structure with a secretariat in Kathmandu and several regional centres).

India's foreign policy objectives are realized by forming BIMSTEC in several ways, such as enhancing its connectivity and trade with Southeast Asia, especially through its northeastern states, strengthening its strategic and security interests in the Bay of Bengal region, especially vis-à-vis China, promoting its cultural and civilizational links with the Buddhist countries in the region, and showcasing its leadership role in regional cooperation and integration.