Relevance : GS Paper II
Theme of the Article
Unlike SAARC, BIMSTEC provides an opportunity for economic, cultural and social cooperation.
Why has this issue cropped up?
External Affairs Minister has made his first foreign visit to Bhutan.
Reason for shift in focus to BIMSTEC
- Inability of SAARC to foster regional cooperation.
- SAARC has not met since 2014.
- SAARC summit stood cancelled in 2016.
- This prompted India to focus to BIMSTEC.
Caution needed
Trajectory of regional cooperation is driven by previous attempts. Thus, India needs to be cautious to avoid the fate of SAARC.
The optimism
- BIMSTEC may be prove successful because it does not include Pakistan.
- China’s absence in BIMSTEC could mean that there may be fewer obstacles.
Conclusion
As the renegotiation of SAARC remains unattainable, BIMSTEC might be a viable option for India to maintain its foreign policy discourse.
