In 2014, the transformation of India’s Look East Policy (LEP) into the Act East Policy (AEP) marked a significant shift in India’s engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This transition represented a paradigm change from a broad, multifaceted strategic partnership to a more action-oriented approach with a stronger emphasis on economic cooperation and connectivity. The paper critically examines the course of India-ASEAN relations in recent years. The study is based on the qualitative analysis of the secondary sources containing both official documents and academic literature, focusing on four main themes, namely economic cooperation, security partnership, cultural exchanges, and connectivity initiatives. It points out successes like the high levels of trade and bilateral maritime drills and compares them with challenges such as trade deficits and project postponements. Analysis assumes that the success of the Act East Policy will depend on the effort to overcome such asymmetries by specific policy changes, to enhance the ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific. Finally, the paper argues that a more active, empirically based Act East Policy may make India a key balancer in the Southeast Asian region, which would make the region more stable and prosperous. To achieve the transformative potential of the policy, it can be recommended to speed up the process of free trade agreements and strengthen digital infrastructure.
Act East Policy, India-ASEAN relations, strategic partnership, Indo-Pacific, economic integration, cooperation, security, connectivity.
. From Look East to Act East Policy: Evaluating India-ASEAN Strategic Relations. Indian Journal of Modern Research and Reviews. 2023; 1(1):91-94
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