International Relations, Modern Warfare

Bay of Bengal: India’s Maritime Backyard and the Cost of Alienating the Resident Power

The Bay of Bengal, a critical maritime corridor connecting South and Southeast Asia, has always been a linchpin of regional security and prosperity. For India, the Bay represents more than strategic waters; it is the country’s maritime backyard—a domain that the Indian Navy dominates with unmatched power and influence. As India continues to strengthen its naval footprint in the region, any effort by Bangladesh to challenge this balance of power risks pushing the smaller nation into vulnerability and irrelevance.

Bangladesh, a country heavily reliant on the Bay of Bengal for its economic and security aspirations, stands at a crossroads. While its economic future is tied to these waters, its limited naval capabilities and political missteps risk further alienating India, the resident power and principal guarantor of stability. Any antagonism toward India could prove catastrophic for Bangladesh, leaving it subservient and isolated in a region largely shaped by New Delhi’s strategic priorities.

India’s Unmatched Naval Power: The Undisputed Gatekeeper

The Indian Navy is the undisputed gatekeeper of the Bay of Bengal, a position it has cemented through decades of investment in advanced capabilities and strategic infrastructure. Today, India boasts one of the most formidable maritime forces in the world, with a fleet that includes nuclear-powered submarines, aircraft carriers, and advanced frigates capable of operating across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Recent developments highlight India’s maritime superiority:

Missile Testing and Strategic Capabilities:

  • India has demonstrated its underwater strike capabilities with missile tests covering ranges of over 1,700 km in the Bay of Bengal, showcasing its advanced deterrent capabilities. Additionally, the successful test of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine further solidifies India’s strategic dominance in the region.

Submarine Base Development:

  • The Project Varsha submarine base, under construction along India’s eastern coastline, underscores India’s commitment to securing its maritime interests. Once operational, it will provide India with unparalleled strategic depth in the Bay of Bengal, allowing for sustained naval operations.

These advancements reflect India’s commitment to ensuring that the Bay remains a secure and rules-based maritime domain. For Bangladesh, which lacks comparable assets or capabilities, challenging this dominance would be both imprudent and self-destructive.

Bangladesh’s Naval Limitations: A Reality Check

In contrast to India’s formidable naval arsenal, Bangladesh’s navy remains rudimentary. While Dhaka has attempted to modernise its fleet with acquisitions such as two Chinese submarines, these efforts barely scratch what is needed to secure its maritime interests.

Limited Blue-Water Capabilities:

  • The Bangladesh Navy’s reliance on second-hand Chinese submarines highlights its inability to project power beyond coastal waters. These platforms, though symbolic, lack the sophistication and operational readiness required for sustained maritime operations.

Dependence on External Players:

  • Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on Chinese imports raises questions about its strategic independence. Far from bolstering its sovereignty, this dependence exposes Bangladesh to external pressures and limits its ability to act autonomously in the Bay of Bengal.

By contrast, India’s indigenous defence capabilities, such as its Arihant-class nuclear submarines and indigenously built destroyers, enable it to maintain a robust and self-sufficient maritime presence. For Bangladesh, attempting to compete with India’s naval might is not just unrealistic—it risks turning Dhaka into a pawn in broader regional power struggles.

Subservience as a Strategic Necessity

Bangladesh’s economic and security aspirations are deeply intertwined with the stability of the Bay of Bengal, a stability that India guarantees. Any antagonism toward New Delhi threatens to unravel this delicate balance, leaving Dhaka vulnerable to both internal and external threats.

Economic Dependence:

  • Bangladesh’s access to regional trade networks and energy resources depends on India’s security umbrella in the Bay of Bengal. Disrupting this relationship could jeopardize vital initiatives such as BIMSTEC and BBIN, isolating Bangladesh from regional economic integration.

Security Vulnerabilities:

  • Without India’s maritime support, Bangladesh’s waters would be increasingly exposed to illegal fishing, piracy, and encroachment by external actors. The Indian Navy’s intelligence-sharing mechanisms and coordinated patrols are indispensable for safeguarding these waters.

For Bangladesh, aligning with India is not just a strategic choice but an existential necessity. Alienating the region’s most powerful navy would leave Dhaka vulnerable and subservient to external powers, particularly China, whose support often comes with strings attached.

India’s Role as the Resident Power

India’s dominance in the Bay of Bengal is not merely a function of geography—it results from deliberate strategy and sustained investment. The Indian Navy’s presence ensures the safety of critical trade routes and deters external powers from militarising the region.

Regional Leadership:

  • Through initiatives like the Colombo Security Conclave and its leadership in BIMSTEC, India has positioned itself as the linchpin of regional stability. These platforms enable India to shape the Bay’s security architecture while fostering economic and security collaboration among littoral states.

Countering External Powers:

  • India’s dominance also serves as a bulwark against Chinese expansionism. By investing in regional infrastructure and security, such as in Sri Lanka’s ports and Bangladesh’s trade routes, India ensures that the Bay of Bengal remains a domain of cooperative security rather than great-power rivalry.

Bangladesh’s Inevitable Alignment

The Bay of Bengal is, and will remain, India’s maritime backyard. With its unmatched naval capabilities and strategic vision, the Indian Navy is the region’s natural guardian. For Bangladesh, any attempt to challenge this reality would be futile, leaving it vulnerable and dependent on external powers that do not prioritise its sovereignty or stability.

Dhaka must recognise that its future prosperity and security are inextricably linked to a strong partnership with New Delhi. By aligning with India and embracing its role as the resident power, Bangladesh can secure its place in a stable and prosperous Bay of Bengal. Conversely, alienating India risks turning Bangladesh into a peripheral actor in its own waters, subservient to forces beyond its control.

The Bay of Bengal is too vital to be a theatre of discord. For Bangladesh, subservience to India is not a weakness—it is the wisest path to ensuring its survival and success in the region.

Featured Image: INS Tushil – Courtesy; Indian Navy

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About Aritra Banerjee

Aritra Banerjee is a Defence, Foreign Affairs & Aerospace Journalist, Co-Author of the book 'The Indian Navy @75: Reminiscing the Voyage' and was the Co-Founder of Mission Victory India (MVI), a new-age military reforms think-tank. He has worked in TV, Print and Digital media, and has been a columnist writing on strategic affairs for national and international publications. His reporting career has seen him covering major Security and Aviation events in Europe and travelling across Kashmir conflict zones. Twitter: @Aritrabanned

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