Overview
The Bay of Bengal is increasingly central to India’s foreign‑policy thinking. On 13 July 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled SHANTI while announcing India’s candidature for the UNSC for the 2028‑29 term. SHANTI builds on earlier maritime outreach programmes – SAGAR and MAHASAGAR – and seeks to turn the Bay into a test‑bed for shared norms, trust and integrity in maritime affairs.
Key Developments
- Launch of SHANTI as a normative framework for maritime security, disaster response and the blue economy.
- India’s formal bid for a 2028‑29 UNSC seat, positioning the Bay of Bengal as a showcase of cooperative security.
- Adoption of common maritime law‑enforcement principles by BIMSTEC national security advisers in New Delhi.
- Agreement to hold the first joint BIMSTEC maritime security exercise in the Bay in November 2026.
- Ongoing negotiations for a white‑shipping information‑sharing agreement among BIMSTEC members.
Important Facts
The Bay’s geography links India’s Act East policy with ASEAN and provides access to the vital Malacca Strait. China’s dependence on this strait has spurred its infrastructure investments in the region, heightening strategic competition. Unlike the conflict‑prone western Indian Ocean, the Bay’s challenges – cyclones, fisheries, undersea cables, and coastal erosion – are trans‑national, calling for a shared governance model rather than unilateral dominance.
Exam Relevance
Understanding SHANTI helps aspirants answer questions on regional security architecture, maritime cooperation, and India’s diplomatic strategies. The initiative illustrates how India moves from a “security‑by‑presence” approach to a “norm‑based” one, aligning with GS 2 (Polity) topics such as India’s neighbourhood policy, maritime disputes, and multilateral institutions. It also touches on GS 3 (Economy) through the blue economy and disaster‑risk management, and on GS 4 (Ethics) by emphasizing trust‑based, rules‑based cooperation.
Way Forward
For SHANTI to succeed, the following steps are essential:
- Formalise the blue economy agenda through joint research and capacity‑building.
- Expand the BIMSTEC information‑sharing platform to include satellite‑based early‑warning systems for cyclones and maritime domain awareness.
- Encourage other Indian Ocean regional groups to adopt SHANTI’s principles, creating a cohesive Indo‑Pacific security net.
- Maintain India’s role as a convenor, not a hegemon, by promoting inclusive decision‑making among all littoral states.
If implemented effectively, SHANTI could transform the Bay of Bengal into a model of cooperative maritime governance, strengthening India’s claim as a “preferred security partner” and enhancing its credibility in the upcoming UNSC election.