India’s Outreach to Myanmmar

Context: India is leveraging its political, diplomatic, and security ties with Myanmar to address some of its multidimensional interests.

Principles guiding India’s policy towards Myanmar

• Supporting democratization driven from within Myanmar: by engaging with the military and party in power and refraining from forcing external interference.

• Indian political support has been sustained throughout:  whether the military backed Union Solidarity and Development Party that won the 2010 polls or the prodemocracy National League for Democracy, which is in power now. 

• Reintegrating Myanmar with the Asian region and world: which has been a strategic imperative for Myanmar as a part of its policy of diversifying its foreign engagements.
• Providing an alternative to China: A key factor behind the military regime’s decision to open the country when it initiated reforms was, in part, to reduce dependence on China. 

Some Indian Initiatives in Myanmar

• Establishing a liaison office in Myanmar: where only a few countries have set up such offices.(China was the first country to establish a liaison office in 2017.)
• Proposal to build a petroleum refinery in Myanmar: reflects growing strategic calculus in terms of energy security and evolving competitive dynamic with China.
• Mutual collaboration in border areas: in terms of in the security and development.
• Maritime cooperation: India’s transfer of a Kilo-class submarine to Myanmar.
• Finding a solution on Rohingya Issues: By playing active and balancing act between Bangladesh and Myanmar, India is facilitating the return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

Conclusion: For India, Myanmar is key in linking South Asia to Southeast Asia, and the eastern periphery becomes the focal point for New Delhi’s regional outreach.