Analyzing the Implementation of India's Act East Policy: Fostering  Indo-Pacific Cooperation Through ASEAN Engagement

Nand Kumar; Neha Yadav

Analyzing the Implementation of India's Act East Policy: Fostering Indo-Pacific Cooperation Through ASEAN Engagement

Author(s)	Nand Kumar, Neha Yadav
Country	India
Abstract	The Indo-Pacific has emerged as one of the most important geopolitical regions of the twenty-first century, and is the subject of much debate today regarding regional security, economic integration, maritime governance, and strategic cooperation. The Act East Policy (AEP) is a critical component of India's foreign policy strategy within the context of this dynamic regional architecture, highlighting India's commitment to deepening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and fostering greater connectivity, economic engagement and a rules-based Indo-Pacific order. The paper critically analyzes the implementation of India's Act East policy and how it could enhance Indo-Pacific cooperation through the engagement with ASEAN. It discusses the policy shift from the previous Look East policy, the policy documents, the policy perspectives on diplomacy, economy, connectivity and maritime policy and the capabilities of ASEAN as the foundation of the Indo-Pacific policy for India. The study adopts a qualitative research method, with the use of secondary data analysis using the technique of literature search, government reports, institutional publications and policy documents. It also looks at the policy's opportunities and challenges, like infrastructure constraints, geopolitical competition, regional security issues and India's changing strategic alliances with Japan, Australia and the United States. The paper argues that while the Act East Policy has contributed positively to the regional partnership of India and ASEAN and has also ensured the center stage of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific in the medium term, there is a need for greater institutional cooperation, timely implementation of connectivity projects and economic integration in the long run to achieve the policy objectives. The study adds to the growing discourse on India's foreign policy by offering a detailed evaluation of the Act East Policy's impacts on promoting sustainable regional cooperation, strategic stability, and inclusive development in Indo-Pacific.
Keywords	Act East Policy, ASEAN, Indo-Pacific, Maritime Security, Regional Connectivity
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-06-30

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Analyzing the Implementation of India's Act East Policy: Fostering Indo-Pacific Cooperation Through ASEAN Engagement

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