​Missed opportunity, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• India has been a dialogue partner of ASEAN since 1995, and at the Summit level since 2002, providing opportunities to reconnect with the region.
• The annual East Asia Summit allows Indian leadership to interact with powerful countries on Indo-Pacific issues.
• In a virtual speech at the ASEAN-India summit in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the 21st century "the century of India and ASEAN".
• 2026 will be the year of ASEAN-India maritime cooperation, focusing on humanitarian assistance, disaster response, maritime security, and the blue economy.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India at the summit amid geopolitical turbulence, including economic turmoil and maritime tensions.
• India and ASEAN committed to finalizing the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) soon.
• Prime Minister Modi's absence from the Summit was noted, with various reasons cited, including domestic festivities and international tensions.

Detailed Insights:

• The ASEAN summit has historically provided a platform for India to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia, a region of increasing geopolitical importance.
• The East Asia Summit facilitates interaction between Indian leaders and major global powers on issues related to the Indo-Pacific region.
• The revival of the Quad, comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S., occurred on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in 2017, highlighting the forum's significance.
• India's commitment to ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific underscores its strategic interest in the region.
• Geopolitical challenges, such as U.S. tariff policies, China's export constraints, and maritime tensions, add complexity to the discussions at these summits.
• Jaishankar criticized the U.S. for its selective application of principles regarding energy trade with Russia and China for supply chain and market access issues.
• Prime Minister Modi's absence from the summit raised concerns, overshadowing India's commitment to regional stability and cooperation.

Key Concepts Involved:

• ASEAN: A regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries that promotes cooperation.
• Indo-Pacific: A geopolitical construct recognizing the interconnectedness of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, emphasizing maritime security.
• Blue Economy: Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.