IGNOUMATIC

South-East Asia holds significant geopolitical importance in India’s foreign policy due to its strategic location, economic dynamism, and historical ties. Geographically, South-East Asia is located at the crossroads of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, making it a region that has long been integral to India’s trade routes, security considerations, and broader foreign policy objectives. India’s engagement with South-East Asia is multifaceted, encompassing diplomacy, trade, cultural exchange, and security cooperation.

1. Historical and Cultural Ties

India’s historical and cultural connections with South-East Asia date back over two millennia. The spread of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Indian culture influenced the region through trade, migration, and religious dissemination. The cultural influence is visible in architectural styles, religious practices, languages, and even political institutions. Ancient maritime trade routes facilitated the movement of goods, ideas, and people between India and South-East Asia, fostering close interactions.

Even in modern times, India continues to celebrate this cultural link through educational exchanges, people-to-people contact, and the promotion of soft power. The presence of Indian diaspora communities in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Myanmar further strengthens these cultural connections, making them an essential part of India’s regional engagement.

2. Economic Engagement

Economically, South-East Asia represents one of the most vibrant and growing regions in the world, with countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam emerging as important trading partners. India views economic engagement with South-East Asia as a priority to further its “Act East Policy,” which aims to strengthen ties with the region in terms of trade, investment, and connectivity.

India’s trade with South-East Asia has witnessed significant growth in recent years. South-East Asia is India’s fourth-largest trading partner, and it is a part of the broader Asian market that is crucial for India’s economic growth. India and the countries of South-East Asia are also collaborating on projects involving infrastructure development, energy, and technology. The India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in 2010 is a testament to India’s commitment to enhancing economic cooperation in the region.

3. Strategic and Security Interests

South-East Asia holds significant strategic importance for India due to its proximity to vital sea lanes, particularly the Strait of Malacca, which is one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints. Ensuring freedom of navigation and security in these sea lanes is a critical interest for India, as the region is a major conduit for global trade and energy flows.

The growing presence of China in the South-China Sea and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which includes infrastructure investments across South-East Asia, has led India to take a more proactive role in ensuring regional stability. India has expressed concerns about China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific and has actively engaged with South-East Asian nations to counterbalance China’s assertiveness in the region. This includes enhancing defense cooperation, participating in joint military exercises, and offering capacity-building support to countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

India’s membership in multilateral forums such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) has strengthened its security presence in the region. These platforms provide India with the opportunity to discuss and address regional security challenges, including maritime security, counterterrorism, and non-traditional security threats such as climate change and pandemics.

4. Act East Policy and Connectivity Initiatives

India’s “Act East Policy,” which succeeded the “Look East Policy,” aims to deepen political, economic, and strategic relations with the countries of South-East Asia. The policy focuses on enhancing connectivity, both physical and digital, to improve trade, people-to-people ties, and infrastructure development.

India has been involved in several regional connectivity projects, including the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which links India’s northeastern states with Myanmar and then to South-East Asia. The India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, which is being developed to connect India’s northeastern states with Southeast Asia through Myanmar, is another key initiative that demonstrates India’s focus on improving regional connectivity.

Moreover, India is actively engaging in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a regional trade agreement that includes ASEAN nations, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Although India decided to opt out of RCEP in 2019 due to concerns over the trade imbalance, it remains committed to strengthening its economic ties with South-East Asia and other Indo-Pacific nations.

5. Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the positive trajectory in India-South-East Asia relations, several challenges remain. One significant challenge is the increasing competition with China. China’s influence in South-East Asia, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative, has grown substantially, leading to concerns in India about China’s growing presence in India’s traditional sphere of influence. To counter this, India has focused on increasing its own economic engagements, security partnerships, and diplomatic initiatives in South-East Asia.

Another challenge is the complexity of balancing relations with various South-East Asian countries, which often have divergent policies and priorities. While India has cultivated strong ties with countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, some nations, like Thailand and Cambodia, have closer ties with China, which requires India to tread carefully.

However, opportunities abound as well. The rise of the Indo-Pacific concept, which emphasizes the importance of maritime security and regional cooperation, aligns closely with India’s interests. India’s participation in regional security dialogues, its expanding defense and economic cooperation with South-East Asia, and the increasing demand for alternative development models in the region provide India with an opportunity to enhance its role in shaping regional geopolitics.

Conclusion India’s geopolitical connections with South-East Asia are crucial to its broader foreign policy strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Economic ties, security cooperation, historical and cultural links, and India’s “Act East Policy” all play pivotal roles in shaping India’s engagement with the region. While challenges remain, particularly due to the presence of China, India has an opportunity to strengthen its role as a leader in regional stability and growth through strategic partnerships, enhanced connectivity, and active participation in multilateral forums. The future of India-South-East Asia relations will largely depend on India’s ability to leverage its strengths, manage its relations with China, and deepen its cooperation in the areas of trade, security, and infrastructure.