Why in News?
· The future of the Indo-Pacific will be shaped not merely by the balance of power but by the balance of trust.
· The Bay of Bengal, historically a bridge of commerce, culture and civilization, has today emerged as the strategic fulcrum of India's maritime vision.
· It connects South Asia with Southeast Asia, links the Indian and Pacific Oceans through the Malacca Strait and is central to India's Act East Policy, Neighbourhood First Policy and Indo-Pacific strategy.
· In July 2026, India introduced SHANTI (Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity) as a normative maritime framework that seeks to transform maritime security from military competition to cooperative governance.
· The Bay of Bengal, with its shared opportunities and common challenges, provides the ideal platform to operationalise this vision.
Evolution of India's Maritime Vision
· India's maritime doctrine has evolved in response to changing regional dynamics.
· SAGAR (2015) established India's vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ through capacity building and cooperative security.
· Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (2019) broadened cooperation in maritime ecology, connectivity, disaster risk reduction and resource sharing.
· MAHASAGAR (2025) expanded India's engagement across the Indo-Pacific and the Global South, recognising the interconnected nature of maritime security.
· SHANTI (2026) provides the normative framework based on Norms, Trust and Integrity, emphasising governance of shared maritime commons rather than strategic rivalry.
· Thus, if SAGAR represented India's maritime vision, MAHASAGAR expanded its geographical scope, while SHANTI defines the principles through which that vision can be implemented.
Why the Bay of Bengal Matters
Geostrategic Importance:
- The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world, covering nearly 2.17 million sq. km, and borders India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
- It serves as the maritime bridge between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific through the Malacca Strait, one of the busiest sea lanes globally.
- Nearly 80% of China's crude oil imports and a significant share of East Asian trade pass through this strait, making the region strategically significant amid China's ‘Malacca Dilemma.’
- India's Andaman and Nicobar Command, the country's only tri-service command, overlooks the western approaches to the Malacca Strait, enhancing India's maritime leverage.
Economic and Blue Economy Significance: The Bay supports shipping, fisheries, offshore hydrocarbons, renewable energy, marine biotechnology and tourism.
- Over 80% of global merchandise trade by volume is transported through maritime routes (UNCTAD).
- Nearly 40% of India's external trade passes through the Bay of Bengal.
- The World Bank estimates that the global Blue Economy contributes around US$2.5 trillion annually.
- India's initiatives such as Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030, Deep Ocean Mission and PM Matsya Sampada Yojana seek to harness these opportunities sustainably.
Historical and Civilisational Significance: For centuries, the Bay facilitated Chola maritime expeditions to Southeast Asia, Buddhist exchanges from Nalanda to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, spice and textile trade across the Indian Ocean and cultural links with ASEAN countries.
- The Bay therefore remains a symbol of India's historical maritime identity and soft power.
The Bay of Bengal as SHANTI's Ideal Laboratory
Common Non-Traditional Security Challenges: Unlike traditional military threats, the Bay faces transboundary challenges that require collective action.
1. Climate Change and Natural Disasters: According to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, the northern Indian Ocean is warming faster than the global average, increasing cyclone intensity and accelerating sea-level rise.
- The World Meteorological Organization identifies the Bay of Bengal as one of the world's most cyclone-prone regions.
- Examples: Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), Cyclone Amphan (2020), Cyclone Mocha (2023) and Cyclone Remal (2024) => These events highlight the necessity of coordinated Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mechanisms.
2. Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing:
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates annual global losses from illegal fishing at US$10-23 billion, while over one-third of global fish stocks remain overexploited.
- Shared fisheries in the Bay require cooperative management to protect food security and coastal livelihoods.
3. Marine Pollution:
- As per United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), approximately 11 million tonnes of plastic waste enter oceans annually, threatening marine biodiversity and fisheries.
- Ecologically sensitive areas such as the Sundarbans Mangroves, Chilika Lake and Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve demand coordinated conservation efforts.
4. Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure: Ports increasingly depend on digital systems, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks.
- Additionally, over 95% of global internet traffic passes through submarine fibre-optic cables, making their protection a strategic imperative.
Geopolitical Significance: The Bay has emerged as a major arena of Indo-Pacific geopolitics.
- China has strengthened its regional presence through Kyaukpyu Port (Myanmar), Hambantota Port (Sri Lanka), Gwadar Port (Pakistan) and Maritime Silk Road under the Belt and Road Initiative
- India's response has been based on inclusive regionalism rather than strategic containment, promoting SAGAR, SHANTI, Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, Quad cooperation and Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)
ð This approach reflects India's commitment to a rules-based maritime order under UNCLOS.
BIMSTEC: Institutional Anchor for SHANTI
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand represents around 1.8 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding US$5 trillion.
Recent initiatives include: Entry into force of the BIMSTEC Charter, strengthening institutional cooperation.
- Bangkok Vision 2030, focusing on connectivity, maritime security and the Blue Economy
- Creation of an Expert Group on Maritime Security Cooperation
- Decision to conduct the first BIMSTEC Joint Maritime Security Exercise in November 2026 and
- Ongoing negotiations on a White Shipping Information Sharing Agreement to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness.
ð These initiatives operationalise SHANTI's principles of trust, transparency and collaborative security.
Significance of SHANTI
Promotes a Rules-Based Maritime Order: Strengthens governance of maritime commons through norms, trust and integrity, in line with UNCLOS (1982) and encourages freedom of navigation, peaceful dispute resolution and secure sea lanes.
- Example: SHANTI complements SAGAR and MAHASAGAR by shifting the focus from deterrence to cooperative maritime governance.
Enhances Maritime Security and Disaster Resilience: Builds cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), Search and Rescue (SAR) and anti-piracy operations.
- IPCC Sixth Assessment Report warns of rising sea levels and increasing cyclone intensity in the northern Indian Ocean.
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO) identifies the Bay of Bengal as one of the world's most cyclone-prone regions.
- Examples: Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), Cyclone Amphan (2020) and Cyclone Mocha (2023).
Promotes Sustainable Blue Economy: Encourages sustainable fisheries, marine biodiversity conservation, offshore renewable energy and coastal livelihoods.
- As per World Bank, global Blue Economy contributes nearly US$2.5 trillion annually.
- Example: Supports India's Deep Ocean Mission and PM Matsya Sampada Yojana.
Strengthens Regional Institutional Cooperation: Provides a common framework for BIMSTEC, IORA and other regional institutions and encourages information sharing, capacity building and joint maritime exercises.
- Example: BIMSTEC's proposed White Shipping Information Sharing Agreement and the first Joint Maritime Security Exercise in 2026 demonstrate trust-based cooperation.
Reinforces India's Leadership in the Indo-Pacific: Positions India as a preferred security partner, first responder and responsible maritime power and supports India's campaign for the UN Security Council (2028-29) by highlighting maritime security, Global South priorities and reformed multilateralism.
Challenges in Operationalising SHANTI
Geopolitical Competition: Strategic rivalry between India and China in the Bay of Bengal may affect trust-based cooperation.
- Example: China's Belt and Road Initiative projects, including Kyaukpyu (Myanmar) and Hambantota (Sri Lanka), have increased geopolitical competition.
Institutional Fragmentation: Multiple regional organisations such as BIMSTEC, IORA, ASEAN and IONS have overlapping mandates and limited coordination and this reduces policy coherence and implementation efficiency.
Climate Change and Environmental Stress: Rising sea levels, stronger cyclones, coastal erosion and marine pollution threaten regional stability.
- IPCC Sixth Assessment Report projects greater climate risks in the northern Indian Ocean.
Capacity Constraints Among Littoral States: Several Bay countries face financial, technological and institutional limitations in maritime surveillance, disaster management and cyber security.
- Example: Political instability in Myanmar constrains effective regional cooperation.
Emerging Non-Traditional Security Threats: Illegal fishing, piracy, human trafficking, cyber-attacks on ports and vulnerability of submarine communication cables continue to grow.
- More than 95% of global internet traffic is transmitted through submarine fibre-optic cables, making their protection strategically important.
Way Forward
Institutionalise SHANTI through a Regional Maritime Framework: Develop a Bay of Bengal Maritime Charter based on norms, trust and cooperative governance + Establish a Bay of Bengal Maritime Coordination Centre for Maritime Domain Awareness, disaster response and environmental monitoring.
Strengthen BIMSTEC-led Maritime Cooperation: Finalise the White Shipping Information Sharing Agreement + Conduct regular joint naval, coast guard and HADR exercises + Accelerate implementation of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity.
Build Climate and Disaster Resilience: Develop climate-resilient ports under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) + Strengthen regional early warning systems and disaster preparedness + Align initiatives with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement.
Promote a Sustainable Blue Economy: Expand cooperation in sustainable fisheries, blue carbon ecosystems, marine biodiversity conservation and offshore renewable energy.
- Examples: Deep Ocean Mission, Sagarmala Programme and mangrove conservation in the Sundarbans.
Strengthen Maritime Governance and Digital Security: Enhance cyber security of ports, shipping networks and submarine communication cables + Expand Maritime Domain Awareness through satellite surveillance, artificial intelligence and real-time information sharing + Ensure effective implementation of UNCLOS while integrating SHANTI with SAGAR, MAHASAGAR, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the Act East Policy.
