India-Myanmar Significance
Source: Indian Express
GS II: India and its Neighbourhood – Relations
Overview
- News in Brief
- Key Highlights
- Strategic Significance of Myanmar for India
Why in the News?
Recently, Myanmar’s newly elected President Min Aung Hlaing concluded his five day visit to India.
News in Brief
- Myanmar President’s visit marks a strategic shift in India-Myanmar diplomatic relations amid the country’s ongoing political instability.
- The recent high-level diplomatic discussions focused on cooperation across security, trade, rare earths, healthcare and connectivity projects and other areas of mutual interest.
- The visit aims to ease Myanmar’s diplomatic isolation and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Key Highlights
- Strengthening trade and economic ties, defence and security, border management, and cultural exchange.
- India-Myanmar agreed to work on the completion of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway.
- Enhanced connectivity would foster mutually beneficial economic linkages and shared prosperity in the region.
- India enhanced Mekong Ganga ICCR scholarships for Myanmar students from 36 to 100.
- Both agreed to facilitate improved bilateral trade through the Rupee-Kyat settlement mechanism.
- Supporting trade and investment cooperation in the petroleum, agro-processing, energy, and mining sectors.
- India extended its support for the sovereignty and integrity of Myanmar.
- Ensured protection of sovereign territory.
Strategic significance of Myanmar for India
- The two countries share a 1,600- km border.
- Myanmar occupies a key place in India’s regional strategy as the only member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that shares a land border with India. It is India’s Gateway to South East Asia.
- China ‘s growing influence in the country challenges India’s regional dominance.
- Myanmar provides China direct access to Bay of Bengal, reducing Beijing’s dependence on Strait of Malacca for some trade and energy supplies.
- Strengthening bilateral ties helps India to manage Beijing’s reach in the Indian Ocean.
- Myanmar is central to India’s Neighbourhood First policy, Act East Policy, and MAHASAGAR ( Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) framework.
- Developmental cooperation in area including connectivity infrastructure, human resource development, and other areas of mutual interest.
- It is the most prominent feature in the India-Myanmar Bilateral engagement.
- India is Myanmar’s fourth-largest export destination and its sixth-largest import source.
- Shares a strong cultural and economic cooperation through religious and historical ties.
Challenges
- The increasing political instability following the military takeover.
- Increase in the inflow of refugees in Mizoram and Manipur.
- Security threats in cross-border.
- Expanding Chinese footprint in Myanmar.
- Delay in developmental projects.
India’s Approach in India-Myanmar bilateral ties
- Prioritized border security and regional stability.
- Accelerate developmental projects for improved connectivity.
- Strengthening economic and people-to-people ties.
- Ensure bridging India’s growth prospects with ASEAN.
Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Corridor (KMTTC)
- Connects Eastern India to Northeastern India through Myanmar.
- Bypasses the narrow Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck), and improves supply chain to Northeastern states of India.
- Significantly reduce transport distance and logistical costs.
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