Diplomatist Magazine DIplomatist September 2018 | Page 45

REGIONAL COOPERATION
sectors: agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter
terrorism, environment, culture, people-to-people contact and
climate change in 2008. Nepal and Bhutan formally joined
BIMSTEC in 2004 after seven years of its establishment
upgrading it into a seven state intergovernmental organisation.
It can be viewed as a gateway or an economic corridor to East
Asia through SEA via both land and sea.
BIMSTEC summit admits arguments of India losing its
infl uence and goodwill with in its immediate neighborhood
and the growing of Chinese infl uence. The fourth summit
ended with an 18 point declaration focusing on strengthening
capacity by preparing the preliminary draft of the Charter,
long term vision, priorities for co-operation, establishment of
BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC), and a
Secretariat with fi nance and human resources. Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) on grid interconnection for
optimisation of energy resources in the region and to promote
effi cient and secure operation of power system supplementing
energy security was signed. The 14+2 priorities were
categorised into fi ve lists and are at hand for arrangement.
India’s proposal for a seven nation BIMSTEC military
to clarify that Nepal would not join any military alliances or
be used against friendly nations but would only prepare for
natural disaster expressed the sensitivities. The Ministry of
Defense articulated of being unaware of the military exercise
with respect to the question of civil control and supremacy. The
preparation progressed with a communiqué in end of May with
preliminary planning on 19-20 June and the fi nal arrangement
was conducted on 2-3 August.
Military exercises weather joined, combined, or alliance
are conducted for stability, peace and order, forming alliances
to counter opposition and competitors. The imperative idea is
to align with nation states that adhere to international system
of governance for protection of common interests.
Military Exercise conducted in any form has political,
security and diplomatic impacts. Joint, combined military
exercises between nation states can be in bilateral and
multilateral forms. Regional and Sub-Regional alliance
exercises can be conducted in continental, intercontinental,
tri-continental, and global arrangement. These exercises
replicate the assurance and belief of the participating countries
that joint co-operation on the basis of incorporated military
BIMSTEC, despite its dearth of a Charter and strong institutional mechanism, has
performed a military exercise for common efforts to control international terrorism,
illicit drug traffi cking, cross border organised crime, humanitarian assistance, disaster
relief operations, and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
exercise to strengthen relationship and address common
challenges and threats was taken with suspicion.
“I believe that there is a big opportunity for connectivity
– trade connectivity, economic connectivity, transport
connectivity, digital connectivity, and people-to-people
connectivity,” PM Modi addressing the inaugural session of
the fourth BIMSTEC summit in Kathmandu.
BIMSTEC and the Military Exercise
PM Modi in his speech came out on BIMSTEC Combined
Military Exercise that was held in Pune from 10-16 Sept.
with affi rmation to participation from the member countries.
Amidst India’s push for BIMSTEC Alliance Military Exercise,
politicians, intellectuals and civil society in Kathmandu
argued on two main issues; one, BIMSTEC is still working
for a strong institutional mechanism, vision and charter for
capacity development; two, if there was a change in Nepal’s
diplomatic principles of opting out of military participation
in the fi rst ever regional military alliances exercise for peace
efforts vis-a-vis the fear of its growing relationship with China.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, was quick
agreement, understanding, and co-ordination is the foundation
to confronting common threats and dangers that challenge
growth and stability.
Asia has more or less four alliance military exercises: Axis
of Resistance, Organizations of Eurasia Law Enforcement
Agencies with Military Status, Peninsula Shield Force, and
Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO). Pakistan, along
with 23 nations Middle East, participates in the Gulf Shield
Exercise. Eight SCO countries including China, India, Pakistan,
and Russia with other Central Asian Nations culminated in
Russia for SCO Peace Mission Exercise on 29 August.
BIMSTEC, despite its dearth of a Cha rter and strong
institutional mechanism, has performed a military exercise
for common efforts to control international terrorism, illicit
drug traffi cking, cross border organised crime, humanitarian
assistance, disaster relief operations, and mutual legal
assistance in criminal matters.
Nepal has been part of bilateral and multilateral joint
military exercises and actively organised combined military
exercises for peace keeping efforts of United Nations
and Multinational Force and Observers. Nepal has been
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 9 • September 2018, Noida • 45