SHANTI: India’s Emerging Maritime Security Framework for the Bay of Bengal

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations; GS3/Security

Context

• With India’s recent bid for the UNSC (2028-29) being announced, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has brought up SHANTI (Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity) as the next phase of India’s marine vision after SAGAR and MAHASAGAR.

Why is the Bay of Bengal Strategically Important?

• The Bay of Bengal has emerged as the strategic fulcrum of India’s maritime vision due to its economic, geopolitical and security significance.
• Traditional military-centric tactics are not sufficient to tackle the expanding non-traditional security concerns such as climate-induced disasters, illegal fishing, cyber hazards, supply chain disruptions and maritime pollution in the region.
• India has suggested the normative framework of SHANTI (Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity) to enhance cooperative marine governance.

Geostrategic Significance

• The Bay of Bengal is the maritime bridge connecting South and Southeast Asia. It links the Act East Policy of India with ASEAN.
  • It gives access to the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s largest marine commerce routes.
  • It is a critical element in the larger Indo-Pacific strategic architecture.
• Economic Importance: It has important sea lanes for world trade and energy sources. It promotes the Blue Economy in the areas of fisheries, ports, offshore resources and marine trade. It is an important part of the regional connectivity activities under BIMSTEC.

Evolution of India’s Maritime Vision

• Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), 2015: It highlighted inclusive maritime development, regional security cooperation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and capacity building among Indian Ocean littorals.
• Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth throughout Regions (MAHASAGAR), 2025: It broadened India’s outlook by acknowledging interlinked security issues, enhancing collaboration throughout the Indo-Pacific and the Global South, and fostering comprehensive marine alliances.
• SHANTI (2026): It was launched together with India’s candidature for the UN Security Council (2028-29). It spells out the way it will be implemented, assuming SAGAR was India’s marine vision and MAHASAGAR increased its geographical ambit. It lays down the operational principles for maritime cooperation by focusing on:
  • Norms: Respect for international law and appropriate maritime behaviour.
  • Trust: Building confidence and sharing information.
  • Integrity: Open, inclusive and rules-based government.

Why is SHANTI Needed?

• The Bay of Bengal has a number of similar concerns that transcend country boundaries:
  • Natural disasters and cyclone recurrence;
  • Coastal erosion and sea-level rise;
  • Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing;
  • Maritime pollution;
  • Protection of undersea communication cables;
  • Cyber vulnerabilities affecting ports;
  • Supply chain disruptions;

Role of BIMSTEC in Operationalising SHANTI

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is the most ideal venue for the implementation of SHANTI.
• Recent advancements are:
  • Common standards for maritime law enforcement agreed.
  • Enhanced cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
  • Proposal for White Shipping Information Sharing to Improve Maritime Domain Awareness
  • Decision to hold the first BIMSTEC Joint Maritime Security Exercise (2026).
• These efforts promote regional resilience while preserving the sovereignty of member states.

Significance for India

• SHANTI increases India’s capacity to:
  • A partner of choice for security in the Indian Ocean region.
  • The first response in the area for natural calamities.
  • A champion of the rules-based order in the seas.
  • A facilitator of inclusive regional government, not strategic hegemony.
• The framework also compliments the ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ vision of India as it promotes common security and sustainable maritime development.

Challenges

• Bay strategic competition, particularly with rising Chinese maritime dominance.
• Institutional overlap between BIMSTEC, IORA, ASEAN-led processes and other regional fora.
• Limited financial and technical capabilities of smaller littoral states.
• National sovereignty vs greater regional collaboration.
• Climate change exacerbates humanitarian and ecological risks.

Way Forward

• Institutionalise regular BIMSTEC maritime drills and HADR coordination.
• Enhance Maritime Domain Awareness through secure information-sharing processes.
• Support Sustainable Blue Economy activities, maritime environment protection.
• Build coastal resilience with climate adaptation and catastrophe preparedness.
• SHANTI should be aligned with international standards such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) framework.

Conclusions

• India has a chance to shift maritime security from a competition-based approach to one of cooperation, resilience, and shared responsibility in the Bay of Bengal.
• SHANTI is a living example of this transformation, putting norms, trust and integrity at the center of regional governance.
• Executed successfully through BIMSTEC and other regional structures, it may be a role model for the entire Indo-Pacific, strengthening India’s position as a responsible maritime stakeholder and promoting a stable, secure and prosperous Indian Ocean Region.

Source: TH