Bridging The Complexities: Navigating Through Indo-Myanmar Relations
- actionofficial2023
- Mar 14, 2024
- 4 min read
In a world of evolving geopolitics, maintaining a stable neighborhood is crucial for states to ensure stability and peace, paving the way for resolving conflicts and challenges. By sharing more than 1600 km of land border and maritime border in the Bay of Bengal, Myanmar is India's second largest neighbor. By being a bridge that connects South Asia and Southeast Asia, enhanced bilateral relations can give India an edge over China in the region. Thus, geographical proximity; economic, strategic, and security interests push India to broaden the scope of a multidimensional relationship given the endless geostrategic opportunities in the region.
A Turnaround In India's Policy
Myanmar after attaining independence emerged as a democracy with Prime Minister U Nu, who maintained close relations with Nehru. But soon Myanmar went through political turmoil when General Ne Win successfully carried out a military coup in 1962. Despite India's commitment towards democracy, the overall relationship was cordial till 1988. Since then, India's Foreign policy towards Myanmar has taken a turnaround. In 1988, SLORC, the State Law And Order Restoration Council, another military government established its rule, and by the same time, Myanmar witnessed strong Pro-Democracy demonstrations led by Aung Sang Suu Kyi that received unwavering support from India leading to strained bilateral relations. India has opened its doors on the Northeast border for anti-SLORC supporters and pro-democracy activists. In 1991, Soe Myint, a Burmese student who hijacked Thai Airways to garner international attention towards the atrocities of the military Junta, was granted the status of political refugee in India. The relationship turned even more bitter when India allowed NCGUB, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, an opposition to the military Government to set up its office in New Delhi, something which Myanmar viewed as interfering in their internal affairs.
This moralistic and idealistic approach took a major U-Turn when India adopted a more pragmatic policy that stressed Realpolitik that aligned with its national interest. It began with the Indian Foreign Secretary J N Dixit's visit to Yangon in 1993. Around the same time, the Look East Policy was introduced by the Narasimha Rao Government. The mutual desire to maintain cooperation has led to high-level visits by officials and heads of the government that resulted in several bilateral agreements and beneficial projects.
The political order in Myanmar again went through a change when the nominally civilian government came to power in 2010. This further helped India to establish a closer relationship with Myanmar. In 2011, India's Foreign minister S M Krishna visited Myanmar to deepen the commitment and cooperation with the new government. This period also witnessed several high-level visits. Then, again in 2015, an elected government came into power. But in 2021 the military leaders ousted the democratic government. Ever since the military took over in 2021, ethnic armies backed by militants have been trying to overthrow the military Junta leading to continuous violence and disturbance in the region.
As four of our northeastern states share a border with Myanmar, internal strife within Myanmar can threaten India's interests and internal security. For instance, events in Paletwa will directly impact India's multimodal Kaladan Transit Transport Project. Similarly, India will have to deal with the issue of illegal refugees. Since the coup took place in 2021, more than 30,000 refugees have arrived. This may create tension considering the recent Manipur issue as the communities in both countries have strong ethnic ties. India is also thinking about canceling the FMR, Free Movement Regime, a policy started in 2018 by the Modi Government under Act East Policy. Similarly, India's response to the Rohingya crisis has been guided by its strategic interests. Thus, instability and disorder within Myanmar can hurt India's stakes.
What Triggered The Change?
We have seen the paradigm shift in the policies pursued by India. Let's see what prompted India to undertake a drastic shift in its foreign policy.
The Strategic Player China
In the background of the 1988 demonstrations and the subsequent violations of human rights, economic sanctions were imposed and steps were taken to isolate Myanmar leaving a vacuum. China took this opportunity to its advantage by establishing economic and military ties with Myanmar which eventually was viewed by India as a strategic threat to its national security. China soon established its military presence in Myanmar and also took steps to upgrade the harbors and naval bases, especially in the offshore islands like Coco Islands which enabled China to have a closer surveillance of the activities in the Indian Ocean. Fearing the possibility of an encirclement by China, India stepped up with new policies.
The Volatile Northeast
Unrest in Northeast India has always been a hassle for the Indian Government. Myanmar with its long border along Northeast India is a haven for insurgent groups like the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), and United Liberation Front Of Asom (UNFA) with operation bases that undermine the internal security of our country. Under these circumstances, strong ties with military to military contracts may help India to deal with these groups. In return, India has provided various kinds of assistance. Despite the promises including the assurance given by General Than Shwe during his official visit to India in 2004, insurgent groups still use the territories of Myanmar.
Safeguarding Interests
Bilateral economic interdependence paves the way to a mutual desire for peace and stability. With time, bilateral trade relations strengthened, making India the fourth-largest trading partner in 2006 and the second-largest export partner in 2012. Myanmar soon became part of BIMSTEC and MGC. India also made huge investments in various projects. It includes a natural gas project at Shwe, the Tamanthi Dam project, a trilateral road project, the Kaladan Project, the Yangon-Mandalay trunkline railway project, and so on. All these efforts are directed to increase India's leverage over China.
Myanmar also holds huge geostrategic significance for India by serving as a bridge that connects India to Southeast Asia which in turn can accelerate development in Northeast regions. So it becomes necessary for India to maintain good relations by actively engaging with Myanmar.
Conclusion
So to conclude we can say that maintaining a stable relationship with Myanmar became imperative for fulfilling India's interest in the region. We have seen that since the time of Independence, the relationship between India and Myanmar has seen peaks and valleys with India shifting its policy from Ideal Politik to Real Politik. A blend of realist and idealist policy can lead to positive outcomes for both countries.
BY : DEVIKA BAIJU
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