Speaking at the 22nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations-India Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that “the 21st century is India’s and ASEAN’s century.”
Stressing that India and the ASEAN countries, collectively accounting for almost a quarter of the world’s population do not just share geography but strong historical bonds, common values and cultural affinities, Modi articulated the friendship as “a powerful foundation for global stability and development.”
In a significant move, Modi declared that 2026 will be celebrated as the “ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation”, emphasizing the oceanic and maritime aspect of the association.
He outlined a multi-faceted roadmap for cooperation in the areas of education, tourism, science & technology, health, green energy and cybersecurity. He claimed that the theme of the current year’s summit, Inclusivity and Sustainability is patent in their collective endeavors.
For India, ASEAN is a key pillar of the “Act East” policy. Modi reasserted India’s commitment to being an ally of ASEAN centrality and its vision for an inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Experts opine that the speech heralds a higher political and economic aspiration for the India-ASEAN strategic partnership. With added maritime emphasis, India is looking to strengthen connectivity, enhance supply-chain resilience and foster regional economic integration.
In his comments, Modi stated: “India and ASEAN together account for one-fourth of the population of the world. We not only belong to the same geography, we share long-standing historical connection and common values.”
As the world becomes increasingly uncertain, whether through supply chain shocks or strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, this renewed focus on the India-ASEAN relationship can likely help inform economic and security architectures decades to come.
