BIMSTEC was revived as the Bay of Bengal alternative to a deadlocked SAARC, with the Charter entering force in May 2024. Examine its present trajectory, with reference to the 2025 outcomes and connectivity priorities.

Introduction: BIMSTEC — founded as BIST-EC (1997) and renamed in 2004 — links five South Asian States with two Southeast Asian States; its Charter entered into force on 20 May 2024, anchoring India's Act East and Neighbourhood First.

Body: Three dimensions evaluate trajectory. First, strategic value — 22 percent of the world population, $5-trillion-plus combined GDP and the Bay of Bengal as bridge between South and Southeast Asia. Second, Sixth Summit outcomes (Bangkok, 4 April 2025) — Bangkok Vision 2030, the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence on Disaster Management at Noida, the BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and a Master Plan on Transport Connectivity are operational. Third, limits — the BIMSTEC FTA (mooted 2004) remains unsigned; Myanmar's civil war has stalled the BIMSTEC Motor Vehicles Agreement; no joint defence framework yet exists.

Conclusion: Close the BIMSTEC FTA, operationalise the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project and Trilateral Highway, and embed BIMSTEC as the Bay of Bengal connectivity backbone alongside MAHASAGAR.