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Uniting cultural legacy with strategic progress, India and ASEAN strengthen trade, technology and connectivity for regional growth and peace
India’s interaction with ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) signifies its legacy and cultural links to the region, coupled with its desire to integrate the Northeast States with Southeast Asia, enhance economic cooperation, and ensure regional security. Due to the fast-moving geopolitics, ASEAN is an important partner in India’s ambition to grow into an Asian growth hub and a responsible security actor in Asia.
India’s relationship with ASEAN has been continuously evolving. From being a Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 1992, a Dialogue Partner in 1995, to a Strategic Partner in 2012, the relationship further advanced in 2022 when it became a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The 25th ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee (AIJCC) Meeting held in 2025 reaffirmed this solid relationship. The session praised the effective implementation of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2021-2025) and advanced the new Plan of Action for 2026-2030. This institutional framework guarantees that the relations between ASEAN and India are not just symbolic but built around observable cooperation mechanisms.
India-ASEAN trade in 2023–24 was USD 122.67 billion, accounting for almost 11% of India’s world trade. Singapore is India’s leading ASEAN trade partner and also the largest source of foreign direct investment with inward flows of almost USD 15 billion during 2024–25. The numbers underscore the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement’s potential, whose total utilization and examination under the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement can release even greater opportunities. Its economic partnership is not limited to trade but extends to investments in start-ups, digital platforms, fintech, e-commerce, and manufacturing. India’s involvement in ASEAN’s Start-up Festival and innovation-led partnerships shows how both sides are gearing up for a knowledge-based economy.
Connectivity is at the core of India’s Act East Policy. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway are two key projects to improve physical connectivity. India’s cooperation on cyber-security, 5G, digital payments and ‘smart cities’ builds on its physical infrastructure. The ASEAN Smart Cities Network, with which India is engaging will offer more chances to connect further.
India has been increasing its standing as a trusted security partner for ASEAN. Defence cooperation can surely be seen as more than words, but actual cooperation. The decision to sell the BrahMos cruise missile system to the Philippines, as a reflection of ASEAN’s confidence in India’s defence ability, is truly monumental. The diverse combined activities like the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise held in 2023, joint anti-piracy patrols, and humanitarian assistance operations provide an opportunity to realize India’s goal to shape maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. These efforts align with India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) strategy, which aims to promote stability, collaboration, and prosperity for all in the region. To combat transnational crimes including terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and human trafficking, India and ASEAN are enhancing their security cooperation beyond the traditional military aspects.
The Indian-ASEAN partnership is progressing in a number of strategic sectors as well, including technology and energy. The speed at which ASEAN countries are working together to make progress in artificial intelligence, renewables, and semiconductors is every bit as fast as I have described. The renewable energy summits of India and ASEAN-India Science & Technology Development Fund are also supporting India’s innovation and sustainability goals.
Projects such as the ASEAN-India Artists’ Camp, the Music Festival, and the Network of Universities reinforce such links. The declaration of 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism also draws attention to this soft power aspect. Events such as youth summits, cultural festivals, and academic exchanges will foster harmony and friendship. Cultural symbols such as Indonesia’s Ramayana Ballet and Thailand’s Ayutthaya, which is commonly known as the “Ayodhya of Thailand,” highlight this shared heritage.
The Philippines and Vietnam, together, converge with India’s aspiration of an Indo-Pacific vision, whereas nations like Cambodia claim a position of neutrality based on geography and their economic reliance on China. The circumstances with Myanmar yield divergences as well; specifically, India, for the sake of border stability and connectivity, undertakes pragmatic engagement with the junta, while ASEAN pursues its Five-Point Consensus for a political solution. Lastly, differences in regulatory regimes for digital commerce and data regulation make it difficult to collaborate.
India is fast-tracking highway, port and digital plans to connect the Northeast with Southeast Asia. Collaborations on renewable energy, climate change action, food security, and vocational training provide a sustainability dimension. India is also utilizing ASEAN forums such as the East Asia Summit and ADMM-Plus to promote ASEAN Centrality while suggesting initiatives in space cooperation for agriculture, disaster warnings, and ocean monitoring.
India’s efforts to link trade, connectivity, and regional security allow it to position itself as a stable and responsible power with an important growth agenda. The partnership between India and ASEAN, steeped in history but based on cooperation, is poised to help bring forth an emergent future-oriented, inclusive and rules-based order in the region. Together, India and ASEAN create a justifiable force, a growing level of security cooperation, economic integration, and cultural connectivity, which bring stability and growth to the Indo-Pacific region.
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