Myanmar is India's land and maritime bridge to Southeast Asia. Examine how defence diplomacy, including naval exercises, supports India's Act East and MAHASAGAR visions.

Myanmar is the only ASEAN country sharing both a land (1,643 km) and maritime (1,098 km) boundary with India [2]. Defence diplomacy turns this geography into strategic access. The ongoing 8th India–Myanmar Naval Exercise (IMNEX-26) at Visakhapatnam is a clear example [1].

Defence diplomacy and the land bridge (Act East)

• Institutional trust: Army, Navy and Air Force Staff Talks, and MoUs on Border Cooperation and Maritime Cooperation, form the framework of engagement [2].
• Securing connectivity: Sittwe Port under the Kaladan Multimodal project has run since May 2023 and berthed over 301 vessels by May 2026 [2]. Steady military ties help protect these Act East assets.
• Continuity amid political change: visits by the Defence Secretary (Sep 2025) and Navy Chief Adm Dinesh K. Tripathi (May 2026) keep channels open [2].

Naval exercises and the maritime bridge (MAHASAGAR)

• Interoperability: IMNEX's Harbour Phase (expert exchanges, cross-deck visits) builds trust. Its Sea Phase (coordinated operations, tactical manoeuvres) lets the two navies work together [1].
• Doctrinal alignment: the Ministry of Defence places the exercise under MAHASAGAR, Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions [1].
• HADR dividend: in Operation Brahma (2025), India sent 5 warships and 9 aircraft with about 1,000 tonnes of aid after the earthquake. Operation Sadbhav (2024) delivered relief after Typhoon Yagi [2]. Both show India acting as first responder.
• Bay of Bengal security: joint naval work secures the shared maritime boundary and the sea lanes to Sittwe.

Limits

• The land leg lags: the government says Kaladan's road is delayed by Myanmar's security situation and COVID-19 [3]. Goodwill at sea cannot secure contested land routes.
• Normative dilemma: engaging a military-led government draws criticism on democratic values, and short drills give little leverage over internal conflict.

Defence diplomacy has made Myanmar's geography work for India at sea, while the land bridge still depends on stability. The way forward is to:

• give IMNEX more HADR and search-and-rescue drills;
• add inclusive political engagement to military ties, so the Kaladan road can be finished;
• use BIMSTEC to deepen regional cooperation.

This would let Act East and MAHASAGAR deliver security and growth together.