BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat: High-Level Diplomacy in Delhi

Thailand Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa arrived in Delhi for the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat. The event hosted by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will focus on enhancing cooperation among member states in various sectors like security, trade, and connectivity.

Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa touched down at Delhi Airport on Thursday to participate in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Minister's Retreat. High-ranking officials, including Nepal's Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Bhutan's Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel, and Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister U Than Swe, have also arrived in the Indian capital for the event.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat in New Delhi on July 11-12. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the gathering will provide a unique platform for foreign ministers to explore ways to enhance cooperation in sectors such as security, connectivity, trade, and investment in the Bay of Bengal region.

The MEA stated, "The Retreat will present an opportunity for the Foreign Ministers of the BIMSTEC countries to discuss, in an informal setting, avenues to broaden and deepen cooperation across various sectors, including fields of security, connectivity, trade, and investment, people-to-people contacts, etc., in the Bay of Bengal region and littoral." The inaugural edition of this retreat was held in Bangkok, Thailand on July 17, 2023.

BIMSTEC, a regional organization, brings together seven South and Southeast Asian nations for broad-based cooperation. The member states, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, aim to strengthen relationships and foster economic growth in areas like transportation, energy, and counter-terrorism.