GREAT POSSIBILITIES

FOCUS INDIA-ASEAN SUMMIT

- DK Giri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called 2026 as the year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation. Addressing virtually the 22nd ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur on 26 October, he added that ‘ASEAN is the main pillar of India’s Act East Policy’and a powerful foundation of global stability and growth.

The theme of this year’s conference was inclusivity and sustainability. India took the opportunity to emphasise collective efforts for international development. In his speech, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said that there should be zero tolerance of terrorism anywhere; it poses “a continuous and corrosive threat”.

Quite a few decisions were taken as they happen in such summits. The frontrunning pact was the maritime cooperation. It is significant for India to deepen this cooperation as ASEAN countries have major maritime routes that is vital for trade and commerce; particularly the Malacca Strait through which India’s 80 per cent energy imports transit. This cooperation consists of four areas of activities; maritime security, blue economy, HADR - Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and connectivity infrastructure.

Second, since the focus was on accelerated economic integration, India-ASEAN signed AITIGA — -ASEAN-Indian Trade in Goods Agreement. India felt the urgency to push this as India’s trade deficit with ASEAN was growing.