On the occasion of the visit to three Southeast Asian countries of the Indian Foreign Minister, Associate Professor Rahul Mishra at the Center for Indo-Pacific Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi wrote a commentary in Hindustan Times confirming determine the meaning and policy importance of this visit. TG&VN briefly translated the analysis article.
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| Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visited Southeast Asia from March 23-27. (Source: PTI) |
Take relationships to new heights
From March 23-27, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar departed on a tour of Southeast Asia with 3 stops: Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia, just as India prepares to celebrate the 3th anniversary of the policy's implementation. Act East in India.
During the five-day trip, Foreign Minister Jaishankar will seek to maximize diplomatic activities to take India's relations with Southeast Asian partners to a new level.
Singapore is a long-time partner of India. Since Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's visit to India in 1994, the bilateral relationship has come a long way. Singapore plays an important role in promoting ASEAN-India relations and strengthening India's cooperation in ASEAN-led mechanisms.
Besides, Singapore is one of India's most reliable partners in the region in trade, investment, defense - security and many other areas of strategic cooperation. Singapore can be considered India's gateway to ASEAN.
In contrast to Singapore, India's relationship with the Philippines has not reached its full potential. However, recent developments in India-Philippines trade as well as in the security and defense sector are very encouraging.
India and the Philippines signed a defense agreement in January 1 under which India will supply the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile variant to the Philippines. India also offered to supply Tejas Mk2022 to the Philippines. India and the Philippines are looking forward to celebrating 1 years of partnership and this would be the right time to elevate the bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership.
Malaysia is one of four ASEAN member countries with which India has signed strategic partnership agreements. The remaining three countries are Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam. The transition from a strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 4 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Malaysia, shows the importance India attaches to Malaysia in its Act East policy. of this country.
Although bilateral relations have had ups and downs in recent years, it is worth noting that foreign policy officials in New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur have effectively addressed unexpected challenges with seriousness and sincerity to Keep this relationship warm and meaningful.
Malaysia also boasts of having one of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, which plays an important role in promoting economic relations and cultural interactions between the two countries.
In Malaysia, there are 2,77 million people of Indian origin, accounting for about 8,5% of the population. Malaysia is also home to about 140.000 Indian immigrants, including professionals and workers from various fields. The flow of tourists back and forth has significantly enhanced human connections between the two countries.
Bilateral trade and investment relations are growing, at the same time defense cooperation is also reaching new heights. India and Malaysia are discussing the idea of importing defense from India, while also exploring new defense cooperation potentials.
With a bilateral trade turnover of nearly 20 billion USD in 2022-2023, the two countries are trying to exceed the 25 billion USD mark by 2026.
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| Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met with ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn on July 12, 7 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Source: X) |
For the common good, minimize risks from big country competition
As Malaysia prepares to assume the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, it is important for both sides to understand each other's policies towards the Indo-Pacific region, as India increasingly has greater role in shaping the Indo-Pacific regional order.
India's commitment to maintaining an inclusive, peaceful, rules-based and open Indo-Pacific region has parallels with ASEAN's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) ).
India's Indo-Pacific Initiative (IPOI) as well as the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative strengthen India's image as a responsible stakeholder. responsibility and partner in ensuring overall security of the region.
India's unwavering commitment to ASEAN norms and principles is also consistent with ASEAN's shared vision and priorities in the region.
ASEAN countries are clearly aware that many of the challenges facing the region are also those that India and its dialogue partners must confront. It is in both India and ASEAN's interest to take meaningful and effective measures to ensure that ASEAN remains a central force in mediating disputes in the South China Sea.
This is necessary to keep the Indo-Pacific an exemplary rules-based, peaceful, inclusive, open and prosperous region, away from the negative impacts of water competition. large, such as US-China competition.
