The Urgency of Common Bay of Bengal Climate Security Framework

Full Article link: Peace And Security Review, Volume 12, Number 26, Fourth Quarter 2023 (bipss.org.bd)

In case of the Bay of Bengal Climate Security Framework, there needs to be France (a leading state), BENELUX (compromising states) and a Bay of Bengal elitist network. An old quote has always roamed around in the author’s country of origin (Bangladesh), “Tree, your identity lies in the quality of your fruits”. Similar to a tree, a state is the representation of its citizens (though citizenship today is complex), experts and, most importantly, elites. In order to establish a common Bay of Bengal Climate Security Framework, the elites of the adjacent countries must raise ideas and intentions of the framework during meetings and conferences.

According to epistemology, foreign ministers are the key actors in the integration domain. According to the author’s analysis, which the author believes most scholars will relate to, the Indian and Thai Foreign Ministers can act as the driving force to establish the Bay of Bengal Framework. H.E. Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and H.E. Don Pramudwinai are the two significant process mechanisms in the Bay of Bengal integration scheme. These two elites can make India and Thailand play the French Role. H.E. Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar holds the maximum capacity to act since he inherits both bureaucratic and political expertise. Considering India playing the French Role can only be rational and pragmatic.

Given India plays the French Role in the Bay of Bengal integration process, there needs to be a state or states playing the BENELUX Role. The author explicitly takes the opportunity of placing Bangladesh in the position of BENELUX. The core principle of Bangladesh's foreign policy is focused on friendship. Hence, hammering that very principle of Bangladesh, this state must discover and connect integration enthusiasts. Table 1 portrays that the elites who were involved in European integration held some sort of passion or at least fondness towards union. When time and space complemented each other, the elites launched their interests in full capacity. With its innovative diplomatic approach, Bangladesh can establish the base of an elitist network in the Bay of Bengal region.

The aspects of collaboration already exist in the region with the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). This formation already includes states like Bangladesh, India, and Thailand. Given its name, the cooperation is incomplete since Malaysia and Indonesia have yet to be members. A BIMSTEC plus solution has been previously recommended by the veteran diplomat, ambassador, and political analyst Tariq A. Karim. The recommendation is rational when assessed in terms of the balance of power and the location of the Bay. It is a challenge in itself to initiate a regional collaboration. Hence, utilising BIMSTEC can be one of the pragmatic routes in establishing a Common Bay of Bengal Climate Security Framework. Even if BIMSTEC plus does not occur, the framework can be easily initiated jointly by BIMSTEC, Indonesia and Malaysia. The framework will be a step ahead towards Asian integration.