India, Myanmar enter defence partnership

The Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (MAH), Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services (CDS) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, was on an official visit to India from 25th July – 2nd August 2019. The bilateral talks between the two countries were aimed at enhancing defence co-operation with special emphasis on strengthening maritime security. 

On conclusion of the talks, the two countries signed a preliminary agreement regarding joint security surveillance and capacity building. India and Myanmar’s shared border runs along India’s northeastern region and its porous nature mandates provisions for protection against illegal immigration. Earlier last year, India entered into the border agreement with Myanmar to facilitate regulation of already existing free movement rights for people residing along the shared border of over 1,600 km spanning across four north-eastern states of India – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram as well as a maritime boundary along the Bay of Bengal. 

Strengthening its defence ties with Myanmar, India has recently also increased its prominence as a supplier of defence equipment to the country. For instance, earlier this summer, India delivered an initial batch of indigenously built torpedoes for the Myanmar navy; the total contract value is estimated at US$37.9 million. 

Strong bilateral ties with Myanmar are pertinent to India’s ‘Act East policy.’ Apart from defence security, in recent times, India and Myanmar have collaborated in the fields of infrastructure development, trade, commerce and consular services. India is the fifth-largest trading partner of Myanmar and the tenth-largest investor with an approved investment of around US$740.6 million as of mid-2017. Current bilateral trade between India and Myanmar stands at US$1.8 billion, mainly comprising pulses, meat, products, timber and pharmaceuticals.