Myanmar’s Evolving Maritime Security Landscape

Oct 18, 2017 | Rajni Gamage
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Myanmar links South and Southeast Asia and lies on maritime shipping routes from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. A key pillar of its national development agenda is establishing an efficient and integrated transport system to become Asia's newest maritime hub. Recent political and economic reforms have already had significant impact on national trade flows. According to the Central Statistical Organization, the annual value of total trade (exports and imports) during 2004-2010 remained below US$5 billion. In 2014-2015, this figure increased to US$29 billion. Of this trade, more than 85% is maritime-based. The security of the sea lines of communication (SLOCs) in regional waters would therefore appear to be a national priority. However, while the security of SLOCs remains vital to Myanmar's economic outlook, it is unlikely to feature highly on the national security agenda until the internal situation stabilises. Armed ethnic groups have long posed serious security challenges in a number of Myanmar's states, and instability in Rakhine State could derail the Tatmadaw's ongoing peace process with these groups. For the time being, therefore, Myanmar is likely to leave much of the task of providing security in regional waters to its larger, more willing and more capable neighbour, India.