India's Act East Policy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visits to Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand are pivotal in advancing India's Act East Policy. This policy marks a strategic evolution from the earlier Look East Policy, as declared at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit in 2014.
Objectives of Act East Policy
- Promote economic cooperation.
- Strengthen cultural ties.
- Develop strategic relationships with Indo-Pacific countries.
- Engage at bilateral and multilateral levels.
Historical and Geographical Context
- India's historical links with East Asia in culture and trade.
- Originally revived through the Look East Policy in 1991, focusing on Southeast Asia and the economic sector.
- Geographical scope now extends beyond Southeast Asia to the Asia-Pacific region.
Strategic Shifts
India's policy includes both hard and soft power elements and aims to correct historic neglect of the Asia-Pacific region. The policy has been positively received internationally, with the U.S. viewing India as a "partner and net provider of security" in the Indian Ocean.
Emerging Geopolitical Concepts
- The emergence of the Indo-Pacific as a geopolitical concept.
- Revival of the Quad reflects broader strategic shifts.
- Addressing non-conventional threats such as IUU fishing, piracy, trafficking, illegal migration, and natural disasters.
Challenges
- Political instability in neighboring countries like Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
- Inconsistencies in the positions of extra-regional powers, including the United States.
- Potential to upset regional stability if perceived as overly strategic.
- Inadequate infrastructure in Northeast India for acting as a gateway to East Asia.
Achievements
- Enhanced partnerships with ASEAN.
- Positioning India as a responsible maritime power.
- Strengthened cooperation with like-minded democracies.
- Advocating for the concerns of small island nations.
In conclusion, the Act East Policy signifies India's proactive and confident foreign policy approach in the Indo-Pacific region, addressing both opportunities and challenges.
