INDIA AND ASEAN IN 2025

Strengthening a Multifaceted Strategic Partnership

- Ankita Gupta

On 14 February 2025, the 25th ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee (AIJCC) meeting convened at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, reflecting the ongoing deepening of ties between India and ASEAN. This meeting was not an isolated event but rather a milestone within a long trajectory of evolving relations that span political, economic, security, and cultural dimensions. The partnership between India and ASEAN has become a cornerstone of regional architecture, underpinned by a shared vision of peace, prosperity, and inclusivity in Asia.

Historical Foundations and Growing Convergence

India’s engagement with ASEAN began formally in 1992 and was cemented when India became a dialogue partner in 1996. Since then, the relationship has progressively expanded beyond economic exchanges to encompass strategic and security cooperation. The upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2022 marked a new chapter, emphasising multifaceted cooperation.

India’s Act East policy reaffirms the centrality of ASEAN in its regional approach. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the 2023 East Asia Summit, stated, “ASEAN’s centrality remains the bedrock of our engagement in the region. Our partnership is grounded in respect for rules-based order and mutual prosperity”. This underscores India’s commitment to ASEAN not merely as a group of nations but as the fulcrum of regional stability. ASEAN, for its part, has welcomed India’s role as a balancer in the Indo-Pacific, supporting ASEAN’s vision of inclusivity and sustainable development (ASEAN Secretariat, 2025). This mutual recognition reinforces their cooperation within ASEAN-led forums such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

25th ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting: Achievements and Outlook