GS II & III: Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests & Security challenges and their management in border areas.
Context: India has introduced Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity (SHANTI) as a maritime security framework while launching its candidature for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028–29 term. The Bay of Bengal has been identified as the ideal region to operationalise this framework.
Background- India’s Maritime Vision
- SAGAR (2015): Emphasised Security and Growth for All in the Region through cooperative maritime security.
- MAHASAGAR (2025): Expanded India’s maritime vision across the Indo-Pacific and the Global South, recognising the interconnected nature of regional security.
- SHANTI (2026): Builds upon earlier initiatives by promoting Norms, Trust, and Integrity to strengthen rules-based, cooperative, and resilient maritime governance.
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Why the Bay of Bengal is Strategically Important
- Gateway to the Indo-Pacific: Connects India’s Act East Policy with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and provides access to the Malacca Strait.
- Economic Significance: Serves as a major corridor for global trade, energy flows, and blue economy activities.
- Geostrategic Importance: Increasing regional competition, particularly China’s expanding maritime presence, has enhanced the Bay’s strategic relevance.
Need for SHANTI in the Bay of Bengal
- Shared Non-Traditional Threats: Countries face common challenges such as climate-induced disasters, illegal fishing, marine pollution, cyber vulnerabilities, and supply chain disruptions.
- Institutional Fragmentation: Multiple regional mechanisms exist, but coordination and common maritime norms remain inadequate.
- Need for Cooperative Governance: Maritime security increasingly requires collective resilience, trust-based cooperation, and shared rules, rather than unilateral responses.
Key Features of SHANTI
- Norm-Based Maritime Order: Encourages adherence to international rules, transparency, and responsible maritime conduct.
- Trust-Based Cooperation: Promotes collaboration in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime domain awareness, and capacity building.
- Inclusive Regional Approach: Focuses on partnership rather than dominance, respecting the interests of all littoral States.
- Governance of Shared Commons: Expands the focus from military security to sustainable management of common maritime resources.
Recent Developments Supporting SHANTI
- BIMSTEC Maritime Cooperation: Member countries agreed on common principles for maritime law enforcement and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
- Joint Maritime Exercise: BIMSTEC will conduct its first joint maritime security exercise in the Bay of Bengal in November 2026.
- Information Sharing: Discussions are underway on a White Shipping Information Sharing Agreement to improve maritime domain awareness.
Significance for India
- Strengthens Regional Leadership: Reinforces India’s role as the preferred security partner and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Enhances Maritime Security: Improves preparedness against both traditional and non-traditional maritime threats.
- Supports Indo-Pacific Vision: Advances a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
- Promotes Blue Economy: Encourages sustainable use of marine resources while strengthening regional economic cooperation.
Challenges
- Diverse National Priorities: Differing strategic interests among littoral States may affect policy coordination.
- Growing Geopolitical Competition: Intensifying rivalry among major powers could complicate regional cooperation.
- Capacity Constraints: Many coastal countries require greater institutional, financial, and technological support.
Way Forward
- Strengthen Regional Institutions: Improve coordination among BIMSTEC, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and other maritime forums.
- Expand Maritime Information Sharing: Develop integrated surveillance and early warning systems.
- Promote Capacity Building: Support partner countries through technology transfer, training, and disaster preparedness.
- Institutionalise SHANTI Principles: Integrate norms of trust, transparency, and resilience into regional maritime governance frameworks.
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Conclusion
The Bay of Bengal provides an ideal platform to translate SHANTI from a strategic vision into practical regional cooperation. A rules-based, trust-driven, and resilient maritime framework can strengthen regional security, sustainable development, and India’s leadership in the evolving Indo-Pacific.
31 Jul 2026
