In News:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the 22nd India–ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, reaffirming India’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in maritime security, digital inclusion, resilient supply chains, and economic integration.
• During the address, he announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the “ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation,” reflecting an intensified focus on the Indo-Pacific maritime domain. The remarks aligned with ASEAN’s theme under Malaysia’s chairmanship — “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

Evolution of India–ASEAN Engagement

India’s engagement with ASEAN has evolved over more than three decades:

• 1992: Sectoral Dialogue Partnership initiated.
• 1996: Upgraded to Full Dialogue Partnership.
• 2002: India began regular participation in ASEAN Summits.
• 2009: ASEAN–India FTA in Goods (AITIGA) came into force;
• 2015: Services and Investment Agreements added.
• 2014 onwards: Transition from “Look East” to Act East Policy, increasing political, cultural and strategic connectivity.
• 2022: Partnership elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The partnership is grounded in shared civilisational links, especially through Buddhism, historical maritime routes, and cultural exchanges dating back to the Gupta and Srivijaya eras.

Recent Summit Highlights: Strategic Messaging

Despite PM Modi’s long-standing practice of physical participation in ASEAN summits, his virtual presence this year was noted as an unusual departure. Given the symbolic importance of leader-level diplomacy in ASEAN's consensus-driven ecosystem, some observers considered his absence a missed opportunity, especially amid strengthening bilateral ties with Malaysia after upgrading relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Nevertheless, PM Modi reaffirmed India’s intent to complement ASEAN’s Community Vision 2045 and India’s national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, framing both as convergent long-term goals. He highlighted India’s role as a First Responder in regional crises, a position increasingly recognised across Southeast Asia.

Unlike previous years featuring extensive multi-point proposals, the 2025 address emphasised consolidation over expansion, centred primarily on maritime cooperation — a significant signal as the Philippines assumes ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 amid rising maritime tensions in the South China Sea.

Key Pillars of Cooperation

1. Maritime Security & Indo-Pacific Cooperation

• Joint patrols, coordinated naval exercises, and enhanced maritime domain awareness.
• Blue economy initiatives under the ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation (2026).

2. Economic Integration

• Review of the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to address market access constraints, streamline rules of origin, and reduce non-tariff barriers.
• Policymakers are urged to prioritise long-term regional integration over short-term protectionist anxieties.

3. Digital & Green Economy

• Cooperation in digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity, AI governance, renewable energy, green ports, and climate-resilient supply chains.

4. Connectivity Projects

• Acceleration of India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway.
• Progress on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Corridor, strengthening multimodal and economic connectivity.

5. Cultural Diplomacy & People-to-People Links

• ICCR scholarships, academic exchanges, tourism linkages, and the ASEAN–India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).
• Emphasis on shared civilisational heritage and cultural exchanges.

Initiatives & Institutional Mechanisms

• ASEAN–India Plan of Action (2026–2030) focusing on trade, innovation, food security, agriculture, health, and education.
• India’s ?500 crore ASEAN–India Fund supporting capacity building, agriculture, and connectivity projects.
• Track 1.5 dialogue platforms reveal growing regional acknowledgement of India’s strategic role in Southeast Asia.