Editorial 1: Missed opportunity

Context

India missed an opportunity to leverage the ASEAN Summit more effectively.

Introduction

Since becoming ASEAN’s Dialogue Partner (1995) and a Summit-level participant (2002), India has used the platform to deepen its “Act East” engagement. The ASEAN and East Asia Summits enable India to strengthen regional ties, promote Indo-Pacific stability, and assert its role as a balancing power amid growing geopolitical and economic complexities in Asia.

India–ASEAN Engagement: Overview

Since 1995: India became a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
2002: Upgraded to Summit-level partnership.
The annual ASEAN and East Asia Summits serve as key platforms for India to engage with Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific powers.

Strategic Importance

Aspect	Description
Historical ties	Deep civilisational and cultural links between India and Southeast Asia.
Geopolitical value	ASEAN central to Indo-Pacific stability; connects India’s “Act East Policy.”
East Asia Summit (EAS)	Brings together U.S., China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, India, and ASEAN.
Quad revival (2017)	Australia-India-Japan-U.S. grouping revived on the sidelines of ASEAN Summit after 10 years.

2025 ASEAN–India Summit Highlights

Venue: Kuala Lumpur (Virtual address by PM Modi, attended by EAM S. Jaishankar).
Theme: Strengthening maritime and economic cooperation amid global turbulence.
PM Modi’s statements:
- Called the 21st century “the century of India and ASEAN.”
- Reaffirmed commitment to ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality, and ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
- Declared 2026 as the Year of ASEAN–India Maritime Cooperation with focus on:
  - Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR)
  - Maritime Security
  - Blue Economy

Geopolitical Context

Global instability marked by:
- U.S. tariff policies triggering economic uncertainty.
- China’s export constraints and market access issues.
- Maritime tensions in the South China Sea.
At the East Asia Summit:
- Jaishankar described the times as “complicated.”
- Criticized U.S. selective principles on energy trade with Russia.
- Raised concerns over China’s supply chain reliability.
- Pushed to finalise the review of the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).

Missed Opportunity: PM’s Absence

Issue	Details
PM Modi’s absence	Absent from ASEAN Summit 2025 (also missed 2022).
Official reason	Festivities in India; cited by Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim.
Skepticism	Explanation seen as unconvincing — summit planned months ahead.
Alternative reasons suggested	- Campaign commitments (Bihar elections) - Strain with U.S. over trade deal - Malaysia–Pakistan ties (Operation Sindoor context).
Perception	Absence viewed as a diplomatic gap when others (U.S., China) attended to signal regional commitment.

Conclusion

While India reaffirmed its commitment to ASEAN centrality and Indo-Pacific cooperation, Prime Minister Modi’s absence from the 2025 summit weakened its diplomatic impact. In an era where presence signals intent, India must combine consistent participation with policy alignment to sustain its credibility and leadership in the region’s evolving strategic and maritime architecture.

29 Oct 2025 : Missed opportunity

Context