Strategically India will have to continue with improving defence profile of its littorals in Bay of Bengal, collaborate with other navies and observe progress of CMEC almost like CPEC.
It should not be impossible to think of creating another trade and communication-related entity to come up on the pattern of BIMSTEC with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran as its permanent members, and with an almost identical agenda as of the Bay of Bengal Initiative.
Photo: Representational Image: iStock)
The prime minister is no stranger to the international arena. During his first term (2014-19) he acted as a hands-on de-facto Foreign Minister, investing considerable time and energy in shaping the country’s foreign policy.