Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually took part in the 5th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit today, ignoring a diplomatic note sent by the United States (US) that called on India to convince the grouping to bar the participation of the Myanmar junta.
BIMSTEC is holding its first summit in four years and has invited representatives from Myanmar to its virtual summit today. While all member countries will be represented by their heads of government, Foreign Minister (FM) Wunna Maung Lwin will be representing Myanmar’s military on behalf of chief Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.
Foreign aid allocation in India's Budget (INR Crores) (MEA data)
— Neha 네하 방카 (@nehabnk) February 1, 2022
(2021-22) (2022-23)
Myanmar 400 600
Nepal 992 750
Maldives 250 360
Mongolia 2 12
Significant rise in aid to Maldives, Myanmar, Mongolia; countries to watch. pic.twitter.com/Vhd39SinGZ
A day ahead of the virtual meeting, the FMs of all member countries flew to Colombo to participate in a physical meeting. Notably, the only absentee from the gathering was Myanmar’s FM, who followed the events from Naypyidaw. As the host nation, Sri Lanka decided to allow the military regime to participate, a condition that all the other members accepted.
In response to the move, Washington sent a diplomatic note to New Delhi expressing its discontent with the format. The démarche is also believed to have requested India to follow in the footsteps of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in banning the junta from participating. It has not been confirmed if the US has sent a similar note to other BIMSTEC members.
Also Read: India is Unlikely to Break its Silence on Myanmar. Here’s Why.
Ahead of the ASEAN annual summit in October 2021, the Southeast Asian bloc of countries unanimously agreed to deny entry to political representatives from Myanmar. The decision was based on the junta’s “insufficient progress” in abiding by the five-point peace roadmap set forth for it by the group and in order to “give space to Myanmar to restore its internal affairs and return to normalcy,”
Citing the move, the US called on BIMSTEC to do the same and isolate the military. Crucially, the request comes just a week after Washington formally declared that violence committed by Myanmar’s military against the country’s Rohingya Muslims amounts to genocide.
Despite the backlash, India’s inaction on Myanmar’s coup is not unprecedented. New Delhi only expressed “deep concern” about the human rights violations and has thus far refrained from taking action that affects diplomatic relations with its neighbour. In fact, it even increased its aid allocation for Myanmar in the 2022-23 budget.
India Budget FY22-23: key points
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) February 1, 2022
-India allocates Rs 200 cr to Taliban ruled Afghanistan (Vs rs 350 cr)
-Myanmar, Maldives, Bangladesh, Mongolia see aid increase
-Bhutan, Nepal, Seychelles see decrease in Aid
-No change in aid to Sri Lanka, Mauritius or Chabahar port project https://t.co/bapIxUOmnT
One month after the internationally condemned coup last February, India was among only eight countries to send a representative to attend the Myanmar Armed Forces Day military parade in Naypyitaw. Likewise, in June, India abstained from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution on Myanmar, arguing that its views were not been reflected in the draft.
Having ignored the issue once again, Indian PM Modi called for greater cooperation among BIMSTEC nations on Wednesday, declaring that it is time to make the Bay of Bengal “a bridge of connectivity, prosperity and security.” To this end, he announced $1 million towards the budget of the BIMSTEC secretariat. Modi also spoke of the need for greater cooperation in achieving greater transport connectivity, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, diplomatic training, and technology transfer.
BIMSTEC—comprised of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—held its last summit in Nepal in 2018. Member countries account for 21.7% of the global population and have a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion.
Speaking at the BIMSTEC Summit. https://t.co/6ffhno70HR
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2022