Ajit Doval leads India at the 4th BIMSTEC Security Chief meeting

The 4th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Security Chiefs meeting was held in the capital city of Myanmar, Nay Pyi Taw, on 27 July 2024. 

At the meeting, India was represented by the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.

During his visit to Myanmar, Ajit Doval also met the Prime Minister of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, as part of the delegation of the BIMSTEC Security Chiefs.

Discussion at the Meeting 

The security chiefs of India, Myanmar,  Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand discussed issues related to traditional and non-traditional security challenges in the Bay of Bengal region. 

The meeting also discussed matters related to counter-terrorism, transnational crime, anti-narcotics processes, maritime and cyber security challenges, national security, and effective information sharing.

BIMSTEC Security Chiefs Meeting 

At the 2016 Goa retreat of the BIMSTEC Leaders, a decision was taken to organise an annual meeting of the member countries' security chiefs to promote coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies in preventing the spread of terrorism, violent extremism, and radicalisation. 

The  cooperation includes, among other things, Maritime Security Cooperation, Cyber Security Cooperation and Space Security Cooperation

Since then, four meetings of the Security Chiefs of BIMSTEC member countries have taken place.

BIMSTEC was established in 1997 as a regional group to promote cooperation among the littoral states of the Bay of Bengal regions. 

It currently has seven members - India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand and Myanmar.

BIMSTEC headquarters is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

About Myanmar 

Myanmar, which was earlier known as Burma, is a part of Southeast Asia.

It was once part of British India, and it was separated from India on 1 April 1937 under the provisions of the Government of India Act 1935.

It gained independence from Britain on 4 January 1948 and was named the Union of Burma.

It changed its name to Myanmar in 1989, and its capital, Yangon, from Rangoon.

The capital was shifted to Nay Pyi Taw in 2005.

Myanmar, for most part of its independent history has been under military rule.

Prime Minister : General Min Aung Hlaing 

Currency: Myanmar Kyat