Context
India’s maritime aspirations in the Bay of Bengal face obstacles despite its developments in ports and regional trade. It is a strategically very important region. Consequently, both India and China are developing infrastructure to increase their presence and ensure their hegemony in the region.
Geography of the Bay of Bengal
(a) The Bay of Bengal is surrounded by India’s eastern coastline and is the country’s maritime gateway to Southeast Asia.
(b) It links the Indian Ocean to the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s most sensitive chokepoints.
(c) It serves as the maritime boundary of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island houses strategic military infrastructure as well as surveillance systems.
(d) It was seen as a ‘natural sphere of influence’ by India that shapes its security doctrines and foreign policy.
Significance For India
(it) Trade & Connectivity: It serves as a significant maritime passage connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia. So, it ensures efficient global trade as well as supply chains. It consists of infrastructure, trade rules, including the development of ports, and logistics for efficient economic integration with neighbouring countries.
(ii) Geopolitical Influence: India’s presence in the region makes its regional leadership more assertive. As a result, countering external influences and ensuring maritime stability is possible.
(iii) Energy & Resources: The bay has plenty of natural resources, including oil, gas, and fisheries. As all this is important for economic growth as well as energy security.
(iv) Security & Stability: India plays a crucial role in securing maritime security in the region, given increasing concerns over piracy, illegal fishing, and transboundary crime.
(v) Environmental & Climate Impact: The bay’s coastal ecosystems are important for biodiversity and disaster resilience, demanding sustainable policies to safeguard marine life and coastal communities.
Countries interested in the Bay of Bengal
(i) Bangladesh: It is India’s closest maritime neighbour and is very affected by changes in India’s trade and infrastructure rules.
(ii) Myanmar: India’s relations with Myanmar are important for both regional connectivity and establishing security.
(iii) Nepal & Bhutan: They depend on India to leverage the Bay of Bengal ports.
(iv) Sri Lanka: It plays a crucial role in regional shipping routes.
(v) Thailand & Southeast Asia: India’s policies influence BIMSTEC partnerships, which include Thailand.
Associated Challenges
(i) Geopolitical Competition: China’s deep-water port constructions in Kyaukpyu (Myanmar), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), and Chittagong (Bangladesh) pose strategic concerns.
(ii) Maritime Security Threats: The region witnesses increasing threats from pirates, illegal fishing, arms smuggling, and natural disasters. India’s aptness in coordinating maritime surveillance and security with adjoining states is frequently hindered by capacity gaps and political vulnerabilities.
(iii) Inconsistent Trade Policies: India’s withdrawal of transhipment privileges for Bangladesh raised concerns about the predictability of its trade commitments.
(iv) Environmental Vulnerabilities: The Bay of Bengal is very vulnerable to climate change effects — rising sea levels, cyclones, and coastal erosion.
India’s Balancing Act
(a) Security Architecture:
(i) The Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command and the Tri-Service Command in the Andaman Islands act as deterrents and rapid deployment centres in the eastern maritime theatre.
(ii) MILAN Naval Exercises: Participants from Southeast Asia, Africa, and the West, hosted in the Bay by the Indian Navy.
(iii) IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association): India aligns with a vision of coordinated and cooperative maritime governance, addressing concerns like piracy, illegal fishing, and environmental deterioration.
(iv) QUAD Alliance: It shows India’s alignment with like-minded countries on freedom of navigation and a rule-based order.
(b) Economic Engagement:
(i) Act East Policy: Trade agreements as well as infrastructure projects ensure robust ties with SE. asian countries. Consequently, this will make India’s strategic visibility in the region more robust.
(ii) Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR): It is a step showcasing India’s maritime diplomacy, emphasising capacity-building, economic ties, and cooperative security.
(iii) Regional Connectivity: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) and BIMSTEC frameworks (including recently signed BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement), which include economic corridors and energy diplomacy in the Bay region.
(iv) Infrastructure Development: Steps like the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Myanmar and India-Bangladesh coastal shipping increase India’s trade leverage.
(v) Sagarmala: It aims to upgrade ports, ameliorate coastal logistics, and increase maritime trade efficiency, benefitting India’s eastern seaboard.
(vi) Transhipment & Trade Facilitation: India has made big investments in port infrastructure to ensure efficient trade flows.
(c) Environmental Diplomacy:
India is encouraging Blue Economy cooperation and climate-resistant infrastructure in adjoining states. It consists:
(i) Hydrographic surveys and disaster management training.
(ii) India’s aid in satellite data sharing for monsoon and cyclone predictions.
(iii) Encouraging green shipping corridors and renewable energy projects in island nations like the Maldives.
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Way Forward
(i) Reinforce Multilateralism: A peaceful, rules-based framework aims to support India’s credibility as a safe power.
(ii) Transparent Trade Practices: India should make clearer, more predictable trade rules, specifically with neighbours like Bangladesh.
(iii) Joint Infrastructure Projects: Joint ventures in developing ports, digital corridors, and energy grids with allied countries ensure mutual benefits and reduce reliance on extra-regional players like China. It changes competition into collaboration.
(iv) Disaster-Resilient Development: Promote joint coastal resilience programs — like cyclone early warning systems or climate-smart fisheries — that can address a mutual threat and foster goodwill across borders.
(v) Security Cooperation Without Overreach: India can ensure maritime security through joint exercises and shared rules and regulations, while remaining aware of the sovereignty concerns.
Conclusion
India’s maritime weight in the region comes from geography and infrastructure; sustainable leadership, but, rests on predictability and trust. Restoring Dhaka’s trans-shipment access within a multilaterally negotiated framework can turn the present challenge into an opportunity to foster authentic cooperative regionalism.