Nepal refuses to participate in first BIMSTEC joint military exercise

Nepal has refused to participate in inaugural joint military exercise of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries scheduled to be held in Pune, Maharashtra. Nepal’s withdrawal comes in wake of stringent criticism from ruling and opposition parties in the country.

Reasons for Nepal’s backing out

The BIMSTEC military drill saying it is beyond the agenda of BIMSTEC. It also goes against country’s history of following policy of keeping equal distance from its neighbours, without ever being part of a regional bloc militarily. Experts believe that non-participation of Nepal in such ‘military drill’ certainly seems like political call and comes at time when Nepal-China relations are on upward trajectory and BIMSTEC connectivity seen as counter to China’s BRI (Belt and Road Initiative).

BIMSTEC Military Exercise

The first BIMSTEC field training exercise will be conducted at Foreign Training Node at Aundh in Pune, Maharashtra from September 10 and 16, 2018. Armies of BIMSTEC members including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and Nepal were to participate in it.
The theme of exercise includes counter-terrorism in semi-urban terrain and cordon and search. The main aim of this military exercise is to promote strategic alignment among the member-states and to share best practices in the area of counter-terrorism.
The exercise was required platoon-level participation of around 30 soldiers from each BIMSTEC member countries for exercises involving counter-terrorism in semi-urban terrain and cordon and search. Now, Nepal will be only sending three-member observer team. Apart from Nepal, Thailand will also not be participating in military exercise and will be represented by observer.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2018