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Look East to Act East: Powering India’s Strategic Pivot to Southeast Asia
Look East to Act East: Unleashing India’s Bold Southeast Asia Engagement
Context: India’s engagement with Southeast Asia entered a new phase following Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s third consecutive electoral victory in June 2024. With the
‘Act East’ policy too, marking its 10th anniversary in 2024, New Delhi has
intensified its regional outreach through an unprecedented series of high-level
diplomatic exchanges, security partnerships, and strategic dialogues.
Strategic Recalibration of India’s Southeast Asia Policy
- The shift from the 1990s ‘Look East’ policy to the post-2014 ‘Act East’ policy underlines a transition from passive economic engagement to a proactive strategic outreach.
- 2024 marked the 10th anniversary of the Act East Policy under Modi 3.0, featuring intensified regional diplomacy, defence cooperation, cyber engagement, and connectivity.
- The recalibration is driven by strategic imperatives:
- Countering China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
- Securing maritime security and freedom of navigation.
- Advancing a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific.
ASEAN at the Core of India’s Institutional Diplomacy
- ASEAN-India Summit: PM Modi attended the 21st Summit in Laos (Oct 2024), offering 10 proposals on trade, cyber cooperation, and connectivity.
- ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): Platform for addressing non-traditional and maritime security threats.
- East Asia Summit (EAS): Facilitates strategic dialogues on Indo-Pacific challenges.
- ADMM+ (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus): Participation of India’s Defence Minister (Nov 2024) showcased convergence on regional security.
Beyond ASEAN: Sub-Regional and Multilateral Platforms
- Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC):
- Revived during the 12th MGC Ministerial Meeting (July 2023).
- Launch of MGC Business Council.
- Focus on Quick Impact Projects (<US$50,000) for local development.
- Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI):
- Launched in 2019, now includes Southeast Asian nations.
- Promotes cooperation on maritime ecology, security, and resource management.
- Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC):
- 6th Summit (April 2025) in Bangkok adopted the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030.
- Transport Connectivity Master Plan reinforced regional linkages.
Economic Engagement: Addressing the Strategic Deficit
- Persistent Trade Imbalances:
- Despite post-COVID recovery, India-ASEAN trade remains skewed.
- Economic relations remain concentrated with Singapore.
- Connectivity Constraints:
- India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway delayed.
- Abolition of Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar (Feb 2024) undermines border connectivity.
- Investment Concentration:
- Singapore dominates India’s investment landscape in the region.
- Implementation gaps in strategic partnerships, e.g., with Malaysia.
- Strategic Consequences:
- Limits India’s capacity to compete with China’s deep economic footprint.
Differentiated Country-Specific Strategies
- Maritime Security-Focused Partners: Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia
- Vietnam:
- Strategic focus on the South China Sea.
- PM Pham Minh Chinh’s visit (July 2024) revitalised bilateral ties.
- Philippines:
- First Southeast Asian nation to acquire BrahMos.
- Hosted inaugural maritime dialogue (Dec 2024).
- India backed Philippine sovereignty during China-Philippines tensions (March 2024).
- Indonesia:
- President Prabowo as Republic Day Chief Guest.
- 43rd Coordinated Patrol held (Dec 2024).
- Gateway Economies: Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei
- Singapore:
- Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (Sept 2024).
- Hosted multi-ministerial India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable.
- Malaysia:
- PM Anwar’s visit (Aug 2024) elevated relations.
- Cooperation expanded to rare earths and critical minerals.
- Brunei:
- Historic first PM-level visit (Aug 2024).
- Agreement on ISRO tracking station.
- Mainland Frontier States: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos
- Myanmar:
- India balances ties with military junta and opposition.
- 20th Foreign Office Consultation (Dec 2023) reflects continuity.
- FMR abolition (Feb 2024) indicates prioritisation of border security.
- Thailand:
- Held 13th Maitree Exercise and 9th Defence Dialogue (2024).
- PM Modi met the new Thai PM at EAS 2024.
- Cambodia:
- First CINBAX military exercise (Dec 2024).
- Strategic outreach into China-aligned territory.
- Laos:
- PM Modi’s visit (Oct 2024) led to multiple MoUs.
- Engagement at an early but expanding stage.
- New Entrant: Timor-Leste
- President Murmu’s August 2024 visit—India’s first high-level contact.
- Laid the foundation for long-term engagement.
Strategic Trends in Modi 3.0’s Act East Recalibration
- Maritime-First Doctrine: Naval engagement prioritised in Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia.
- Bilateral Institutionalisation: Structured formats like India-Malaysia Security Dialogue and CINBAX exercise signal sustainable partnerships.
- Inclusive Outreach to Smaller States: Active engagement with Brunei, Laos, Timor-Leste reflects inclusive diplomacy.
Key Implementation Challenges
- Security vs Connectivity Dilemma: FMR suspension underscores the challenge of balancing border security and regional integration.
- Values vs Interests Dilemma: Dual-track engagement with the Myanmar junta and opposition highlights tension between democracy and realpolitik.
- Economic Underperformance:
- Limited trade/investment linkages with ASEAN beyond Singapore.
- India lags far behind China’s economic clout.
