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150 Words10 Marks
Q.Do you think that BIMSTEC is a parallel organisation like the SAARC? What are the similarities and dissimilarities between the two? How are Indian Foreign Policy objectives realised by forming this new organisation.
UPSC Mains 2022•International Relations
Model Answer
View this Question In PYQ RealmSyllabus Point
- Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Approach
- Introduction (30-40 words): Introduce BIMSTEC and SAARC as regional organizations in South Asia.
Body (170-180 words)
- Compare SAARC and BIMSTEC (similarities and dissimilarities).
- Explain how BIMSTEC helps realize India's foreign policy objectives.
- Highlight the limitations of BIMSTEC.
- Conclusion (30-40 words): Summarize the strategic utility of BIMSTEC over SAARC for India.
Introduction
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are key regional groupings in South Asia. While SAARC has faced prolonged stagnation, BIMSTEC has increasingly emerged as a highly effective alternative for regional integration.
Body
1. Comparison between SAARC and BIMSTEC
| Aspect | SAARC | BIMSTEC |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | Consists entirely of South Asian countries. | Bridges South Asia (5 countries) and Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand). |
| Focus | Broad focus on regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation. | Sector-driven, emphasizing technical, economic, trade, and transit cooperation. |
| Effectiveness | Highly constrained and stagnant due to India-Pakistan bilateral tensions. | Highly active and functional due to a shared commitment and fewer political hurdles. |
- Similarities: Both groupings share common member states (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka), aim to foster regional economic integration, hold regular summits, and focus on addressing shared challenges like poverty, climate change, and natural disasters.
2. Realization of Indian Foreign Policy Objectives through BIMSTEC
- Economic Cooperation: BIMSTEC provides a platform to boost trade, investment, and economic integration with fast-growing Southeast Asian economies.
- Regional Connectivity: It aligns perfectly with India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policies, linking India's landlocked Northeast region with Myanmar and Thailand.
- Countering Chinese Influence: BIMSTEC helps India build a robust, rules-based cooperative framework in the Bay of Bengal, counterbalancing China's growing footprint in the region.
- Security Cooperation: The grouping enhances joint efforts in maritime security, counterterrorism, and disaster management in the strategically vital Indian Ocean.
- Cultural Ties: It promotes people-to-people contacts and historical cultural exchanges, building deeper mutual trust.
3. Limitations of BIMSTEC
- Limited Membership: Comprises only seven nations, which limits the scope of comprehensive regional integration.
- Divergent Interests: Varying levels of economic development among member states can make consensus-building slow.
- Resource and Institutional Constraints: Most member states face financial limitations, and the organization lacks a highly empowered secretariat to implement decisions rapidly.
- Security Challenges: The region remains vulnerable to non-traditional security threats like piracy, trafficking, and maritime disputes.
Conclusion
While BIMSTEC does not completely replace the geographical scope of SAARC, it serves as a highly pragmatic and effective vehicle for India to bypass historical political deadlocks and achieve its economic, security, and connectivity goals in the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia.
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