The presence of BIMSTEC nations at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conveyed a strong message. It signalled at the fact that a stable and secure neighbourhood will be a priority of the country’s foreign policy. However, it was only since the BRICS-BIMSTEC summit in 2016, that the regional bloc gained renewed importance in India’s foreign policy discourse. Thirdly, the latest invitation reaffirmed the government’s strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific and the critical role the Bay of Bengal plays in India’s maritime policy. Therefore, the latest outreach to BIMSTEC countries is largely a continuation of PM Modi’s emphasis on the neighbourhood that was integral to his foreign policy in his first term.

Source: dna June 11, 2019 01:41 UTC