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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Laos in October 2024, where he attended the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, has underscored India’s growing influence in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. The visit is part of India’s larger strategic framework under its “Act East” policy, aimed at enhancing political, economic, and cultural ties with the 10 ASEAN member countries and beyond. As global geopolitical dynamics evolve, India’s engagement with ASEAN has become even more crucial, reflecting its role as a key partner in regional security, economic growth, and sustainable development.
Strengthening India-ASEAN Relations
PM Modi’s visit to ASEAN comes at a time when the region faces increasing geopolitical tensions, particularly with China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific. India has long sought to strengthen its partnerships with ASEAN nations through a range of initiatives focusing on trade, connectivity, cultural ties, and security cooperation.
At the 21st ASEAN-India Summit, held in Vientiane, Laos, Modi outlined a 10-point agenda aimed at enhancing the partnership between India and ASEAN. This comprehensive plan emphasized the importance of collaboration in areas like digital transformation, green energy, cybersecurity, and disaster resilience. In particular, Modi committed $5 million toward ASEAN’s disaster resilience programs, highlighting India’s commitment to supporting the region in combating climate change and enhancing infrastructure resilience.
In his remarks, PM Modi underscored the importance of ASEAN as a central pillar of India’s “Act East” policy, a strategy that has been in place for a decade. He noted the doubling of trade between India and ASEAN over this period, which now stands at over $130 billion. Modi’s call for reviewing the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), initially signed in 2010, reflects the growing desire to further boost trade and investment between the two sides. Key sectors that stand to benefit from an updated FTA include technology, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and green energy.
Cultural and Historical Connections
PM Modi’s visit also highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between India and Southeast Asia, which have been in place for centuries. The cultural exchange between India and the region is rooted in their shared Buddhist heritage and ancient trade routes, and Modi’s diplomatic approach often includes elements of cultural diplomacy. During his visit, he engaged with Laotian leaders on topics that emphasized these shared civilizational ties, such as the Laotian version of the Ramayana, “Phralak Phralam.” This focus on cultural connections serves as an essential soft-power tool in bolstering India’s diplomatic efforts in Southeast Asia.
Geopolitical and Security Cooperation
One of the key focuses of PM Modi’s visit was enhancing regional security cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. ASEAN’s strategic importance to India cannot be overstated. As a bloc of nations with significant influence over sea routes and regional trade, ASEAN plays a pivotal role in maintaining a stable Indo-Pacific, especially in light of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
During the 19th East Asia Summit, Modi called for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, aligning India’s vision with ASEAN’s own Indo-Pacific outlook. India has consistently supported ASEAN centrality in regional decision-making processes, particularly through forums like the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Modi’s comments reflected India’s commitment to upholding international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which serves as a critical legal framework for resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Modi also engaged in bilateral talks with key leaders, including Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. These discussions emphasized the need for greater collaboration in areas like maritime security, counter-terrorism, and intelligence sharing, with a particular focus on mitigating China’s rising influence in the region.
Economic Partnerships and Connectivity
Economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of the India-ASEAN relationship. Modi’s visit to the ASEAN summit showcased India’s ambitions to deepen economic ties with Southeast Asia. He emphasized the importance of enhancing physical and digital connectivity between India and ASEAN, a goal exemplified by the ongoing work on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, which aims to boost trade and people-to-people connectivity across the region.
In addition to infrastructure, PM Modi also stressed the importance of collaboration in science, technology, and innovation. He proposed new initiatives for boosting cooperation in digital transformation, with a focus on cybersecurity and fintech, two areas that are increasingly crucial in the context of global digitalization. India’s expertise in information technology makes it a valuable partner for ASEAN nations looking to modernize their economies.
The proposed review of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement was another significant development during Modi’s visit. ASEAN, as India’s fourth-largest trading partner, offers vast economic potential for expanding trade in goods and services. Modi’s push for a more comprehensive trade agreement reflects India’s desire to strengthen economic interdependence with ASEAN, especially in sectors like renewable energy, green hydrogen, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.
Looking Ahead: India’s Role in the Indo-Pacific
PM Modi’s visit to the ASEAN and East Asia Summits highlighted India’s strategic importance in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific region. With the world increasingly focusing on this region for both economic opportunities and security challenges, India’s deepening engagement with ASEAN serves as a critical component of its foreign policy. Through trade, strategic cooperation, and cultural diplomacy, India is positioning itself as a key player in the region’s future.
By reaffirming its commitment to ASEAN centrality and promoting multilateralism, India is strengthening its ties not only with Southeast Asia but also with other major global powers that are engaged in the region. The visit also aligns with broader efforts by the Quad (comprising the US, Japan, India, and Australia) to ensure a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
As PM Modi concluded his visit, he left behind a clear message: India’s partnership with ASEAN is more important than ever. Through enhanced trade, security cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, India and ASEAN are well-positioned to build a future of peace, prosperity, and regional stability in an increasingly complex global landscape.
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