About
Shyam Saran, former Indian Foreign Secretary, advocates for increased strategic trust between India and its neighbors to bolster regional cooperation, particularly within organizations like BIMSTEC. He highlights India’s diminished influence in South Asia due to China’s economic ascent, leading neighboring countries to seek economic and defense ties with China. Saran emphasizes the importance of preventing neighbors from leveraging their proximity to China to undermine Indian interests. He commends Myanmar and Bangladesh for engaging with China economically without fostering insurgencies against India. Saran underscores the necessity of connectivity, cooperation, and strategic alignment within BIMSTEC for its success.
