Jaishankar Meets ASEAN Officials, Affirms Growing Strategic Partnership

On May 3, 2024, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with senior officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in New Delhi, expressing confidence in the growing ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership. The 26th ASEAN-India Senior Officials' Meeting (AISOM) was co-chaired by Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East), and H.E. Mr. Albert Chua, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore.

Why this matters: The strengthening of the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership has significant implications for regional cooperation and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. As India and ASEAN work together on critical issues, their collaboration can shape the future of trade, security, and diplomacy in the region.

The meeting reviewed the gamut of ASEAN-India relations across three pillars of engagement: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural. Discussions focused on the implementation of the Prime Ministers' 12 Point Proposal announced at the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta in 2023 to further strengthen the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership. Proposed joint activities to mark the decade of India's Act East Policy were also highlighted.

Thesenior officialsexchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and discussed preparations for the ASEAN-India Summit to be held later this year in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The delegation of Senior Officials from ASEAN, Timor-Leste, and the ASEAN Secretariat jointly called on Dr. Jaishankar, who emphasized that"ASEAN is a crucial pillar of India's Act East Policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific."

Dr. Jaishankar encouraged the delegation to focus on subjects of critical importance and specific outcomes, including early completion of the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and regional issues of mutual interest. India has been actively participating in various ASEAN-led frameworks, including the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting+ (ADMM+), and the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF).

In a recent address at the first ASEAN Future Forum, Dr. Jaishankar advocated for enhanced cooperation between India and ASEAN, emphasizing support for ASEAN unity and centrality in the Indo-Pacific region. He highlighted the alignment between India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), underscoring their joint commitment to addressing comprehensive security challenges.

The meeting between Dr. Jaishankar and ASEAN in New Delhi marked a significant step in strengthening the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership. With a focus on critical issues and specific outcomes, the partnership is expected to grow from strength to strength, reaffirming India's commitment to regional cooperation and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Key Takeaways

• India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with ASEAN senior officials in New Delhi.
• The meeting aimed to strengthen the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership.
• Discussions focused on trade, security, and diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region.
• India emphasized its commitment to regional cooperation and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
• The partnership is expected to grow, reaffirming India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.