Acting East in an uncertain Indo-Pacific, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand underscored the significance of India’s Act East Policy.
• The Look East Policy was officially transformed into the Act East Policy at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit in 2014, reflecting a strategic shift.
• The policy aims to foster economic cooperation, strengthen cultural ties, and develop strategic relationships with countries across the Indo-Pacific.
• Its geographical scope expanded beyond Southeast Asia to include the wider Asia-Pacific, incorporating security, culture, and connectivity.

Act East.png

Detailed Insights:

• India's historical linkages with East Asia, particularly in culture and trade, were officially revived through the Look East Policy in 1991.
• The Act East Policy seeks to correct a "historic neglect" of the Asia-Pacific region and embrace greater global responsibilities.
• The United States views India as a crucial partner and a net provider of security in the Indian Ocean and beyond.
• The emergence of the Indo-Pacific as a geopolitical concept and the revival of the Quad reflect broader strategic shifts in the region.
• Non-conventional threats like illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy, and trafficking necessitate collective action.
• India's initiatives such as SAGAR, IPOI, and MAHASAGAR are integral to addressing these maritime challenges.
• Challenges include political instability in India's neighborhood and the need for improved infrastructure in Northeast India to serve as a gateway to East Asia.
• The policy has enhanced partnerships with ASEAN, positioning India as a responsible maritime power and advocating for small island nations.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Act East Policy: India's foreign policy initiative to strengthen economic, strategic, and cultural relations with the Asia-Pacific region.
• Look East Policy: India's initial foreign policy initiative launched in 1991, primarily focusing on economic engagement with Southeast Asian nations.
• Indo-Pacific: A geopolitical concept referring to the interconnected maritime space stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
• Quad: A strategic dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, aimed at promoting a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
• ASEAN: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional intergovernmental organization promoting economic, political, and security cooperation among its ten members.
• SAGAR: An acronym for "Security and Growth for All in the Region," India's vision for maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
• IPOI: The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, proposed by India to create a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific.
• MAHASAGAR: A platform for high-level dialogue between the Indian Navy and maritime agencies of friendly foreign countries.