India's Changing Foreign Policy towards Myanmar

The red carpet welcome to Than shwe, the head of the Military Junta of Myanmar by NewDelhi created shivers among international experts on Democracy , NGOs and Human rights activists What suddenly make India to change its stance towards Myanmar who was preaching for the restoration of democracy and for the ceasing of human rights abuse there for long ? Certainly India is eyeing on the rich Hydrocarbon resources (Particularly the Gas fields) in its neighborhood. Its quest to satiate the thirst for energy for augmenting the double digit economic growth supersedes every other reasons. Due to Myanmar's close proximity to India , its vast resources and its strategic location in the Indian Ocean it can be a good ploy for India to play with to tweak the foreign policy to accommodate Myanmar in our scheme of things. Our foreign policy should be streamlined with our energy policy towards the Hydrocarbon rich countries for achieving Energy Security which seems to be the case for Myanmar.

India certainly doesn't want Chinese presence in the Bay of Bengal and hence in Myanmar. So it is trying to strengthen its relationship with Myanmar and a good relation with Myanmar will be a shield towards the Chinese influence in the region. The best way to shield china in Myanmar will be to restore electoral democracy there (the Chinese are best in dealing with Juntas-Look at their relation with African countries) .The recent gas discovery in A1 & A3 blocks put Myanmar in the map of Hydrocarbon hot spot regions of the world. Too many things are at stake for India in relation to Myanmar,its energy security, its leadership in the region and its reputation for promoting the cause of Democracy. The visit by the Myanmar premier to NewDelhi will take the relation level to a new high and will definitely help us in achieving our stated objectives. Overall in my opinion for us it is a right step in the right direction at the right time. Jai Hind.