PM Modi's Visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka: Strengthening Regional Relationships and Encouraging Cooperation during BIMSTEC Summit

In April 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on an important diplomatic visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka. The major reason for the visit was to participate in the sixth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in Bangkok and hold bilateral talks in Colombo with Sri Lankan authorities.

PM Modi's Visit to Thailand: BIMSTEC Summit

On April 3, 2025, Prime Minister Modi reached Bangkok, Thailand, for a two-day visit to attend the sixth BIMSTEC Summit on April 4. The summit was the first face-to-face meeting of BIMSTEC leaders since 2018, with the last one being conducted online in 2022 owing to international situations.

The seven members of the BIMSTEC alliance are Thailand, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. The summit theme, "BIMSTEC – Prosperous, Resilient, and Open," was the choice that reflected the collective aspiration for stability and growth within the region. The summit brought leaders together to address enhanced cooperation in the fields of security, trade, investment, connectivity, and cultural exchange.

One of the principal outcomes of the summit was the signing of the Agreement on Maritime Cooperation, aiming to enhance regional trade, security, and connectivity. The agreement is a testimony to the intentions of member countries to work together in attaining a prosperous and secure Bay of Bengal region. (source)

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi had bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The two leaders exchanged views on how to deepen economic, cultural, and security cooperation between Thailand and India. They both emphasized the importance of their shared historical and cultural heritage as a foundation for future cooperation. They shared ideas on how to enhance trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts, deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Myanmar's Participation Amidst Challenges

One of the major developments during the summit was the visit of Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing. His visit was significant, especially since Myanmar had just gone through political instability and the recent catastrophic 7.7 earthquake that occurred in the nation, which resulted in nearly 2,900 deaths. Amidst these challenges, Min Aung Hlaing reached the summit, which seemed to show a willingness to forgo Myanmar's global isolation and instead approach regional support for disaster relief efforts. (source)

PM Modi's Sri Lanka Visit: Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Following the BIMSTEC Summit, Prime Minister Modi travelled to Sri Lanka on April 4 for a state visit, his first one since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in. The visit was to follow up on the progress of earlier pacts and set new goals for the two nations to cooperate.

During his tour, Prime Minister Modi met with President Dissanayake and shared the discussion on enhancing connectivity and economic relations. Proposals were put forth to develop a new sea connection between India's Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka's Talaimanner, a multi-product petroleum pipeline from Nagapattinam to Trincomalee involving participation by the Indian Oil Corporation, and developing power grid connectivity between the two countries. All these steps aim at enhancing infrastructure and energy cooperation and increasing economic integration. (source)

Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated development projects in Anuradhapura, carried out with Indian funding. These projects will likely contribute to the socio-economic growth of the area, demonstrating India's interest in aiding Sri Lanka's development.

Regional and Global Context

The trips were against the backdrop of significant regional events. The devastating earthquake in Myanmar underscored the relevance of regional coordination in disaster relief and humanitarions assistance. Min Aung Hlaing's presence at the BIMSTEC Summit, despite international sanctions and domestic pressures, showed the complex geopolitical dynamics of the region. (source)

Apart from that, meetings between Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake touched on concerns of growing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that their territories are not used in a way that would be detrimental to India when it comes to security interests, while bearing testimony to the shared will to maintain the region stable and sovereign. (source)

Conclusion

The two-country tours undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during April 2025 in Thailand and Sri Lanka were instrumental in reinforcing India's intent for regional partnership as well as bilateral partnership. The BIMSTEC Summit provided an arena to engage on collective development challenges as well as opportunities and opportunities of bilateral economic cooperation and enhanced connectivity in terms of definite proposals. These interactions prove India's initiative in creating a secure and prosperous future for the Bay of Bengal region and its neighbors.