TOKYO — In a scene open to interpretation as either a celebration of diversity or a sign of disunity, the leaders of seven Bay of Bengal nations — each clad in distinct national or formal attire — lined up for a group photo during last month’s summit in Bangkok. The image stood in stark contrast to the choreographed displays at ASEAN summits, where leaders typically don matching batik shirts and link arms in a symbolic gesture of unity.
On April 4, these leaders met in person for the first time in seven years, convening in the Thai capital for a summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a regional bloc that bridges South and Southeast Asia. The gathering offered a revealing glimpse into the region’s complex and often fraught political landscape.
