Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -

Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Context: ASEAN summit welcomes East Timor as the 11th member after 26 years, as the last member, Cambodia, joined in 1999.

About the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

An intergovernmental grouping promoting political-economic cooperation and regional stability in Asia.
Established in 1967 in Bangkok via the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by 5 founding members (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand).
Currently 10 members; Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
Institutional Mechanism
- ASEAN Summit: Annual meetings on regional issues; rotating presidency.
- ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC): Oversees implementation of agreements.
- ASEAN Secretariat: Supports activities and initiatives.
- ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): Dialogue platform on political-security issues among members and partners (India joined in 1996).
- Decision-making: Through consultation and consensus.

ASEAN Future Forum
- Proposed by Vietnam at the 43rd Summit (2023).
- A platform for member states and partners to share ideas and policy recommendations.
- India is a founding member.
Importance of ASEAN for India
- Economic Partnership
  - 4th largest trading partner; 11% of India’s global trade.
  - Bilateral trade: $122.67 billion (2023-24).
- Strategic Importance
  - ASEAN Centrality crucial to India’s ‘Act East’ policy and ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy.
  - Role in eastern neighbourhood stability (e.g., Myanmar).
  - Balances China’s influence in region.
- Connectivity and Development
  - Boosts northeast India’s economic development via connectivity projects (Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project).
  - Secures critical maritime routes (Malacca Strait) for India’s maritime security and trade.
- Soft Power
  - Tourism and education exchanges strengthen goodwill between regions.
Challenges in India-ASEAN Relations
- Economic
  - India’s Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) exit created disappointment.
  - Trade deficit increased from $9.66 billion (2016-17) to $43.57 billion (2022-23).
- Strategic
  - Bilateral engagement preferred over multilateral approach.
  - Chinese influence via BRI limits ASEAN’s ability to harness India’s potential.

Connectivity
- Delayed infrastructure projects (Kaladan, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway) impede economic cooperation.
Way Forward
- 10-Point Plan strengthens collaboration (India’s 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue vision).
  - Enhanced connectivity and resilience
  - People-centric initiatives
  - Educational cooperation
  - Disaster resilience and health
  - Digital and cyber resilience
- Update ASEAN-India FTA to address trade imbalances.
- Robust maritime cooperation for securing sea lines of communication in Indo-Pacific.
- ‘Indo-Pacific Maritime Partnership’ with ASEAN nations to counterbalance China.
- Complete connectivity projects (India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway); explore extension to other ASEAN countries.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)