Why in the News
The ASEAN-India Summit 2025 held in Kuala Lumpur marked the 22nd annual meeting between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
During the summit, the Prime Minister of India declared 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, reinforcing India’s strategic vision for the Indo-Pacific region.
Co-chaired by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the summit celebrated shared values of friendship, trust, and mutual growth. The Indian Prime Minister, addressing the summit virtually from New Delhi, announced a series of initiatives in security, economy, connectivity, and technology, setting the tone for future cooperation.
The event also welcomed Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member state.
ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026–2030)
Leaders approved the ASEAN-India Plan of Action 2026–2030, serving as a roadmap for strategic cooperation and sustainable development.
The plan builds upon the 10-point agenda from the 2024 ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, covering:
Tourism and cultural exchange
Education and skill collaboration
Digital transformation and fintech innovation
Public health and climate action
The new roadmap converts these goals into actionable initiatives with timelines and measurable outcomes, deepening India’s engagement with ASEAN.
Economic Integration and Trade Modernization
A key highlight of the summit was the acceleration of talks on modernizing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to address trade imbalances and unlock new opportunities.
India’s trade deficit with ASEAN has widened from $9.66 billion in 2016–17 to $43.57 billion in 2022–23.
The AITIGA review aims to:
Simplify customs procedures and trade documentation
Remove non-tariff barriers
Strengthen cooperation in services, investments, and e-commerce
ASEAN remains India’s 4th largest trading partner, accounting for 11% of India’s global trade, making this modernization critical to achieving balanced growth.
The summit also emphasized collaboration on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), cross-border payments, and fintech systems.
India’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface) model attracted strong interest, with ASEAN nations exploring partnerships for digital finance and inclusion.
The ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future, established in 2024, continues to support projects in AI, blockchain-based supply chains, and digital health platforms.
Enhancing Physical and Digital Connectivity
Connectivity remains the backbone of the ASEAN-India partnership.
Leaders discussed expediting completion of strategic projects such as:
India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project
These infrastructure corridors will integrate India’s northeastern states into ASEAN’s regional economy, transforming them into trade and logistics hubs.
Plans were also discussed to extend the Trilateral Highway further into Southeast Asia, aligning with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 under the theme “Connecting the Connectivities.”
Beyond physical networks, the summit spotlighted digital connectivity, including broadband expansion, submarine cable systems, and satellite-based communication links.
The 1st ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue was also launched to address cybersecurity and data protection challenges in critical infrastructure.
Strategic Significance in the Indo-Pacific
Geopolitical Balancing
The India-ASEAN partnership acts as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific, providing Southeast Asian nations an independent alternative amid growing U.S.–China competition.
India’s inclusive, non-aligned approach—grounded in mutual respect and democratic values—enhances ASEAN’s strategic autonomy.
India’s active role in ASEAN-led frameworks such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), and East Asia Summit (EAS) reflects a sustained commitment to regional peace and cooperation.
Maritime Security and Defence Cooperation
Maritime security was central to the summit’s agenda.
The declaration of 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation underscores shared priorities on freedom of navigation, blue economy, and sustainable maritime governance.
Both sides agreed to deepen coordination on:
Naval interoperability and joint exercises
Counter-piracy and Search & Rescue (SAR) operations
Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
Maritime cyber threat prevention
Plans were also discussed for the 2nd ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Meeting and 2nd ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, centered on four pillars:
Maritime Security and Safety
Blue Economy and Sustainability
Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR)
Connectivity Infrastructure
India-ASEAN Convergence: The Indo-Pacific Vision
For India, ASEAN represents the gateway to its Act East Policy, bridging South Asia with the wider Indo-Pacific.
Nearly 80% of India’s energy imports pass through the Malacca Strait, making cooperation with Southeast Asia crucial for India’s economic and energy security.
For ASEAN, India offers a democratic and neutral partner, free from great-power politics, supporting ASEAN Centrality and regional sovereignty.
Economically, ASEAN’s $3 trillion GDP and youthful population provide massive potential for Indian investments, supply chain diversification, and technology exchange—especially as industries move away from China-centric systems.
Conclusion
The ASEAN India Summit 2025 reaffirmed the evolution of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into a results-oriented collaboration.
The ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation Year 2026 and the Plan of Action 2026–2030 offer clear frameworks for implementing tangible outcomes.
As the Indo-Pacific region navigates complex geopolitical dynamics, the India–ASEAN partnership stands out as a model of balance, inclusivity, and growth—strengthening regional stability while driving collective prosperity.
The path ahead will depend on the speedy AITIGA review, implementation of connectivity projects, and ensuring India’s Act East Policy delivers measurable benefits to Southeast Asia’s development.
FAQs: ASEAN-India Summit 2025
Q1. Where was the ASEAN-India Summit 2025 held?
A. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Q2. Which country became the newest ASEAN member state?
A. Timor-Leste (11th member)
Q3. What year is designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation?
A. 2026
Q4. What is the cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy?
A. ASEAN Centrality
Q5. What are the four pillars of ASEAN-India maritime cooperation?
A. Maritime security, blue economy, HADR, and connectivity infrastructure
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