ASEAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India-ASEAN today held discussions on taking forward their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• Established: In 1967, by the Bangkok Declaration.
• Type:  A political and economic union of 10 member statesin Southeast Asia.
• Members: Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
• Objective: It promotes inter-governmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration between its members and countries in the Asia-Pacific.
• Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia.

India-ASEAN Relationship (Significance)

• Economic reasons: With ASEAN now India’s fourth-largest trading partner engaging in bilateral trade in 2019-20 worth $86.9 billion. 
• For Peace & Security in the region: ASEAN countries are known for maritime and border smuggling of drug, arms, and ammunition. Cooperation with ASEAN countries is also important for security and peace establishment in N-E region from insurgents’ group.
• Connectivity and development: Connectivity with ASEAN countries maintaining Northeast India in the centre will assure the north-eastern states economic progress.
• Countering China: Improved commercial connections with ASEAN nations would provide a counterbalance to China’s position in the area, as well as economic growth and development for India.
• Meeting India’s principle of ‘Act East policy’ and Indo-Pacific vision: ASEAN countries are the key or central pillar of the India’s foreign policy of ‘act east.’ And India’s ‘Act East’ policy is a core tenet of its Indo-Pacific vision.
• Establishing democratic and rule-based Indo-Pacific region: ASEAN holds a pivotal place in the Indo-Pacific rules-based security architecture, which is critical for India because most of its commerce is dependent on maritime stability.
• Key defence importer: ASEAN countries can emerge as the major import demand of India’s defence equipment’s like Philippines recently finalised the order of Brahmos missile from India.
• Others key areas of engagement: Maritime pollution, Soft power, Climate change etc.