Could BIMSTEC become a South Asian EU?

[Tokora]

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization that seeks to strengthen economic cooperation between the nations of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. While it's currently just a trade bloc, is there any possibility for it to eventually evolve into a political organization akin to the European Union? Could a stronger BIMSTEC help it's member governments become more stable? Just how strong would BIMSTEC be as a regional power?

[Hukhalia]

no

[Tokora]

no

I just thought that if the EU could work with countries who've hated each other for centuries then there's hope for a union between nations who kind of like each other.

[Concejos Unidos]

Why does this BIMSTEC sound like just Greater India?

[Risottia]

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization that seeks to strengthen economic cooperation between the nations of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. While it's currently just a trade bloc, is there any possibility for it to eventually evolve into a political organization akin to the European Union? Could a stronger BIMSTEC help it's member governments become more stable? Just how strong would BIMSTEC be as a regional power?

1.No. Way too much disparity between India and everyone else.
2.No, the attrition between India and China is too great.
3.As strong as India.

[The Two Jerseys]

Why does this BIMSTEC sound like just Greater India?

Because they're the only ones bringing anything to this table.

[Republic Of Ludwigsburg]

Only 3 of the countries there are actually South Asian, Myanmar has some tensions with India due to refusing to build a pipeline to there, India and Bangladesh have a small beef, Sri Lanka is increasingly becoming a Chinese puppet. No, I don't think so.

[Nationalist Northumbria]

Why?

[Tokora]

Only 3 of the countries there are actually South Asian, Myanmar has some tensions with India due to refusing to build a pipeline to there, India and Bangladesh have a small beef, Sri Lanka is increasingly becoming a Chinese puppet. No, I don't think so.

So it'd be impossible for relations to improve in 20 years?

Why?

Same reasons the EU did, peace stability between members and unity against a larger, more aggressive country (China).

[Republic Of Ludwigsburg]

Only 3 of the countries there are actually South Asian, Myanmar has some tensions with India due to refusing to build a pipeline to there, India and Bangladesh have a small beef, Sri Lanka is increasingly becoming a Chinese puppet. No, I don't think so.

So it'd be impossible for relations to improve in 20 years?

Why?

Same reasons the EU did, peace stability between members and unity against a larger, more aggressive country (China).

India has been negotiating with Pakistan since it's independence. Have they resolved their issues? India has been negotiating with China since Mao. Have they resolved their issues?
And why would Sri Lanka, a literal Chinese military base want to unite against China. Same with Myanmar.

[-Astoria-]

Only 3 of the countries there are actually South Asian, Myanmar has some tensions with India due to refusing to build a pipeline to there, India and Bangladesh have a small beef, Sri Lanka is increasingly becoming a Chinese puppet. No, I don't think so.

Bhutan and Nepal are South Asian, too; Myanmar is Southeastern (see Asean).

[Elvatoes]

EU is not comparable to this

[Hukhalia]

y r ppl searching desperately for emerging asian superpowers, like they literally already have one and it's fucking massive

[Bistritza]

You already have a South Asian EU, SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)
EU even has an observer status inside of it.

[Tokora]

y r ppl searching desperately for emerging asian superpowers, like they literally already have one and it's fucking massive

And China is a totalitarian empire currently committing genocide against the Uyghurs. There needs to be an alternative.

You already have a South Asian EU, SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)
EU even has an observer status inside of it.

Honestly I see Pakistan cooperating with India as even less likely than Myanmar.

[Union of Socialist Council-Republics]

y r ppl searching desperately for emerging asian superpowers, like they literally already have one and it's fucking massive

And China is a totalitarian empire currently committing genocide against the Uyghurs. There needs to be an alternative.

Genocide is pretty much par for the course when it comes to superpowers. Considering where India is at right now, I don't think anyone can say with confidence that there isn't one on the way.