India to Host 5th BIMSTEC Security Summit

India will host the 5th BIMSTEC National Security Advisers’ Meeting in New Delhi on 16 July 2026. BIMSTEC is the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, a regional grouping of seven member states in South and South-East Asia.

BIMSTEC and its Membership

BIMSTEC was established in 1997 as the BIST-EC grouping and later renamed BIMSTEC. Its member states are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The organisation connects the Bay of Bengal littoral and adjoining countries through cooperation in security, trade, transport, energy, and people-to-people links.

National Security Advisers’ Meeting

The BIMSTEC National Security Advisers’ Meeting is a security dialogue mechanism among member states. Such meetings generally cover cyber security, terrorism, trafficking, transnational crime, and satellite cooperation. Bangladesh, the current BIMSTEC chair, has confirmed participation in the 2026 meeting. Its delegation will be led by Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. A.K.M. Shamsul Islam.

India’s Cyber Security Cooperation in BIMSTEC

India hosted the First BIMSTEC Experts Group Meeting on Cyber Security in New Delhi in 2022. It also hosted the Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Cyber Security Cooperation on 21 January 2025 in New Delhi. The BIMSTEC Expert Group on Cyber Security works on an Action Plan for coordination and collaboration among member states. Cyber security cooperation in regional forums usually includes information sharing, capacity building, and protection of digital infrastructure.

Important Facts for Exams

• BIMSTEC stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
• BIMSTEC has seven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• India hosted the BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Programme from 25 to 30 April, with over 70 emerging leaders from the Bay of Bengal region.
• Security cooperation in BIMSTEC includes cyber security, terrorism, trafficking, and satellite collaboration.

Youth and Regional Engagement

India hosted a week-long BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Programme from 25 to 30 April. The programme brought together more than 70 emerging leaders from the Bay of Bengal region. Such exchanges are part of BIMSTEC’s wider framework of regional cooperation across security, youth, and institutional engagement.