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BIMSTEC regional security cooperation

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-13 10:23 UTC → 2026-10-17 10:13 UTC · added removed

BIMSTEC member states have engaged in high-level meetings in New Delhi to strengthen regional security and cooperation against transnational threats. In late September 2026, the 11th meeting of the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime convened to address security issues including human trafficking, narcotics, money laundering, and radicalization. Following this, the organization hosted its inaugural home ministers meeting. meeting in mid-October 2026. Chaired by Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah, this session expanded the focus to include cyber threats alongside terrorism and organized crime. While the meeting aimed to enhance coordination among members—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—participation reflected regional political nuances, as nuances. Bangladesh was represented by a delegation led by Senior Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury rather than its Home Minister. Minister, amid reported tensions in India-Bangladesh relations following a change in the Bangladeshi government in August 2024. During the meeting, Amit Shah called for enhanced regional cooperation to combat terrorism, organized crime, and narcotics smuggling. He emphasized that no country in the region should serve as a “safe haven for terrorist groups, training centers, or funding operations,” urging member states to ensure security arrangements account for the safety of their neighbors. Shah advocated for a “whole-of-region approach” to address drug trafficking, which he described as “death trafficking,” noting that illegal drug proceeds often fund organized crime and terrorism. He also highlighted the need for collective action against human trafficking, cybercrime, and financial fraud, recommending The meeting resulted in the timely exchange adoption of actionable the Delhi Declaration, which focuses on enhancing intelligence through existing channels. sharing and coordinated enforcement to dismantle narcotics syndicates. This initiative aims to create a regional compact to close jurisdictional gaps exploited by traffickers, complementing India’s National Drug Control Vision for 2026-2029.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-17 10:13 UTC BIMSTEC regional security cooperation
  2. 2026-10-13 10:23 UTC BIMSTEC regional security cooperation
  3. 2026-10-13 07:11 UTC BIMSTEC regional security cooperation

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