India Hosts 5th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs Meeting

India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval chaired the 5th Meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs in New Delhi on July 16, 2026. The summit followed a series of bilateral discussions on July 15, where Doval met with security leaders from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka to review intelligence, maritime security, and law enforcement cooperation.

During the main summit, the seven member states adopted guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and endorsed guiding principles for maritime law enforcement agencies to improve safety and predictability at sea. Doval urged the group to take decisive action against multi-domain threats, including terrorism, cyber attacks, and global supply chain disruptions, noting that the grouping is central to India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies.

Bangladesh's Defence Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam praised India's leadership in the security sector and called for enhanced protection of underwater communication cables and energy infrastructure. Islam also requested collective BIMSTEC support for the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to ensure regional stability.