The governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore established the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, in 1967 with the goal of advancing social progress, economic expansion, peace, security, and cultural advancement throughout the Southeast Asian area.
The 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations in 2022 was recently marked with a special meeting of foreign ministers between ASEAN and India, held in New Delhi. The "ASEAN-India Friendship Year" has been declared for 2022. The tenth anniversary of India's strategic partnership with ASEAN also occurs this year. In 2021, trade between India and the ASEAN area exceeded $78 billion. During the recent discussions, the leaders advocated for increased connectivity and integration between the nation and South Asia.
Historical Roots
The roots of India's engagement with Southeast Asia can be traced back to ancient times through maritime trade routes. Historical ties, cultural exchanges, and shared economic interests have laid the foundation for the modern-day collaboration between India and ASEAN. India's "Look East" policy, initiated in the early 1990s, marked a strategic shift in its foreign policy, emphasizing stronger ties with the countries of Southeast Asia.
Economic Partnership
Economic cooperation stands as a cornerstone of the India-ASEAN relationship. The two sides have witnessed a significant growth in bilateral trade, with a focus on sectors such as agriculture, information technology, and manufacturing. The India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has played a crucial role in reducing trade barriers, promoting investment, and fostering a conducive environment for economic growth.
Strategic and Security Cooperation
Beyond economic collaboration, India and ASEAN share mutual interests in maintaining regional stability and security. Both entities actively engage in dialogue forums such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS) to address common security challenges. Maritime security, counter-terrorism, and disaster management are areas where joint efforts have been intensified to ensure a secure and resilient region.
Cultural Diplomacy
Cultural exchanges between India and ASEAN member states have flourished, reinforcing the historical and social bonds that tie the nations together. Festivals, educational programs, and people-to-people contacts have played a vital role in enhancing mutual understanding and promoting a sense of shared identity.
Challenges and Opportunities
While India-ASEAN relations have progressed significantly, challenges remain. Geopolitical complexities, economic disparities, and regional disputes can pose hurdles to the seamless cooperation between the nations. However, these challenges also present opportunities for both sides to deepen their engagement, address concerns collaboratively, and build a stronger foundation for sustainable development.
Future Prospects
Looking ahead, the future of India-ASEAN relations holds immense potential. As both parties continue to navigate global uncertainties, there is room for further collaboration in emerging fields such as renewable energy, technology, and healthcare. Strengthening diplomatic ties, enhancing connectivity, and fostering innovation will be crucial in ensuring a resilient and prosperous partnership.
Key topics covered in the meeting included:
Repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war on geopolitics:
Concerns about the security of food, fertilizer, and gasoline have increased as a result of the Russia-Ukraine situation; as a result, the ASEAN meeting brought attention to the necessity for Indo-Pacific nations to strengthen their unity and cooperation in this global context. There was discussion on how to lessen the crisis's cascading effects.
The statement underscored the importance of ASEAN countries' ability to uphold a "rules-based international order" that acknowledges Asia's diversity and modifies post-World War II institutions accordingly.
There was also discussion of the US-China superpower rivalry's intensifying rivalry and how it directly affects all of Asia. It is also noted that focus should be placed on the establishment of relationships based on the three mutuals: mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutuality of interests.
The two parties decided to examine the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) in order to ensure a more user-friendly, straightforward trade facilitation and committed to increase collaboration in important sectors such as trade, connectivity, defense, vaccine production, and clean energy.
Acknowledging the significance of the healthcare industry, the gathering decided to collaborate on vaccine development and distribution, generic drug research and innovation, traditional medicine collaboration, public health infrastructure reinforcement, and public health emergency preparedness and response capacity building.
The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the United Nations Charter, and other pertinent UN treaties and conventions, among other international legal concepts, served as the foundation for the meeting's reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism.
Disagreements about their lack of cooperation in putting into practice measures agreed upon by the 10-member group last year to help relieve the country's severe political crisis prevented Myanmar, one of ASEAN's ten members administered by a military junta, from receiving an invitation to the summit. Together with the ASEAN meeting, there was also a Ministerial Session of the Delhi Dialogue XII. The Economic and Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) jointly organized the Delhi Dialogue.
2021: From February 1–4, the inaugural India-ASEAN hackathon was place. This inaugural virtual hackathon was planned for mentors and students from India and ten ASEAN nations. The hackathon was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 16th India-ASEAN summit in November 2019. The Ministries of Education and External Affairs in India collaborated to conduct an online hackathon. The hackathon's two themes were "education" and "blue economy."
History of ASEAN
The founding fathers of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines signed the Bangkok Declaration, also known as the ASEAN Declaration, on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, officially creating ASEAN. The Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), which included Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, was the previous organization.
In the years that followed, five more countries joined ASEAN, bringing the total membership to 10.
Members of ASEAN
Thailand, a founder member
Philippines (one of the founding members)
Malaysia, a founder member
Singapore, a founder member
Indonesia, a founder member
Joined in 1984 as Brunei
Vietnam was a member in 1995.
PDR Lao (acquired in 1997)
Burma (added in 1997)
Vietnam (added in 1999)
ASEAN Members by Human Development Index 2020-21
Country | HDI | Comments |
Brunei | 0.838 | Very High |
Cambodia | 0.594 | Medium (Lowest among ASEAN members) |
Indonesia | 0.718 | High |
Laos | 0.613 | Medium |
Malaysia | 0.810 | Very High |
Myanmar | 0.583 | Medium |
Philippines | 0.718 | High |
Singapore | 0.938 | Very High (Highest HDI among ASEAN members |
Thailand | 0.777 | High |
ASEAN Objective
accelerating social, cultural, and economic advancement in the area via cooperative efforts that uphold equality and partnership in order to lay the groundwork for a robust and harmonious community of Southeast Asian nations.
fostering regional peace and stability through upholding UN principles and integrating respect for justice and the rule of law into international interactions.
encouraging proactive cooperation and mutual support on topics of shared interest in the fields of science, technology, social science, economics, and administration.
providing training and research facilities in the fields of education, administration, technology, and professionalization to member nations.
collaborating to increase trade (including researching the issue of global commodities trade), enhance communication and transportation infrastructure, raise living standards among the populace, and better utilize agriculture and industry.
encouraging research on Southeast Asia.
keeping close and beneficial ties with other international organizations that share their goals, as well as looking into new opportunities for mutual cooperation.
Basic Principles of ASEAN
The rights of every State to conduct its domestic affairs free from outside intervention, subversion, or coercion; Mutual respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity; Peaceful resolution of disagreements or disputes; Abandonment of the threat or use of force; and
efficient collaboration amongst one another.
ASEAN Headquarter
The organization's main office is in Jakarta, Indonesia.
General Secretary: Dato Lim Jock Hoi
Burmese, Filipino, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, Thai, and Vietnamese are the official languages.
Language of Work: English
Forums led by ASEAN:
Forum for the ASEAN Region (ARF): 1993 saw its launch. It is a 27-member multinational organization that was created to promote collaboration on security and political matters in order to support preventive diplomacy and the development of regional confidence.
Three Plus ASEAN: China, Japan, and South Korea are among the 10 countries of ASEAN that make up the consultative group that was established in 1997.
Summit of East Asia (EAS): The goal of the summit, which was first convened in 2005, is to advance security and prosperity in the area. The heads of state of ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States typically attend. Setting the agenda is one of ASEAN's main responsibilities.
Conclusion
The evolving relationship between India and ASEAN reflects a commitment to shared values, mutual respect, and a vision for a more interconnected and prosperous future. As the global landscape continues to evolve, the strategic partnership between India and ASEAN stands as a testament to the importance of regional cooperation in addressing common challenges and seizing opportunities for collective growth.
Note for UPSC Aspirants:
For UPSC aspirants interested in exploring further, here are some keywords to guide your research:India-ASEAN, Relations, Economic Cooperation, Strategic Partnership, Cultural Diplomacy, Historical Ties, Trade, Security Cooperation, Challenges, Opportunities, Future Prospects.
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