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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on August 29, 2024

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 ‘Look East’ to ‘Act East’: India’s evolving engagement with Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of nationl and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS II - International relations

Context:

India and Singapore recently held the second round of India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) meeting ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to two key member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Singapore and Brunei

Read about:

What is Look east policy?

What is Act east policy?

Key takeaways:

• India and Singapore recently conducted the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) meeting ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to two prominent ASEAN nations—Singapore and Brunei. This visit, scheduled for the first week of September, underscores India's commitment to deepening its strategic, economic, and cultural ties with Southeast Asian countries under its 'Act East' policy.
• India’s connections with Southeast Asia and the Cold War: Historical ties between India and Southeast Asia, such as those between the Chola Empire and the Kingdom of Kalinga with Southeast Asia, exemplify the long-standing civilizational links between these regions. The deep-rooted influence of the Ramayana tradition in Southeast Asia is another testament to the cultural bonds between India and the region.
• However, these cultural connections were not emphasized during the Cold War. At that time, Southeast Asian nations joined the US-led military alliance, the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), established in 1954 with Pakistan as a founding member. India’s non-alignment policy kept it distant from Southeast Asia during this period. Additionally, the close relationship between India and the Soviet Union during the latter half of the Cold War further distanced New Delhi from Southeast Asia.
• The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 impacted India significantly, leaving it without a powerful ally in the complex international landscape. India was not in a position to align with the US due to longstanding distrust of American policies shared by Indian civil society and political leaders. Furthermore, the Nehruvian worldview of India’s political and strategic elite hindered efforts to reach out to the US and its allies.
• From Look East to Act East: When Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao took office in 1991, he inherited this complex situation. He led the nation through significant changes in both domestic and foreign policies. Domestically, India adopted neoliberal economic policies, while its foreign policy began to shift towards the US and the West. It was in this context that India’s ‘Look East’ policy was formulated in 1992.
• The 'Look East' policy aimed to strengthen relations between India and Southeast Asian countries and position India as a counterbalance to China, which many Southeast Asian nations viewed as a security threat. Initially, the policy focused primarily on economic relations and trade. However, as China's influence grew, a strategic dimension was added.
• To advance the 'Look East' policy, India joined ASEAN as a sectoral dialogue partner in 1992, became a full dialogue partner and a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1996, and started participating in the East Asia Summit (EAS) in 2005. By 2010, India also became a dialogue partner in the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus)