India and Southeast Asia Find Common Ground in a Changing Indo-Pacific: New ORF–RSIS Study Highlights Strategic Convergence

A new ORF–RSIS study highlights the growing strategic convergence between India and Southeast Asia amid intensifying great power competition. The report examines how India and ASEAN are deepening cooperation in maritime security, connectivity, technology, economic resilience, and regional governance to support a stable and inclusive Indo-Pacific order.

As the Indo-Pacific emerges as the center of global geopolitical competition, a new research study suggests that India and Southeast Asia are drawing closer together—not merely out of necessity, but because they increasingly share a common vision for the region's future.

The study, "India and Southeast Asia: Mapping Strategic Convergence in an Era of Great Power Competition," jointly published by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore, explores how India and ASEAN countries are navigating a rapidly changing strategic environment.

At a time when geopolitical rivalries, economic uncertainties, and security challenges are reshaping international relations, the report argues that India and Southeast Asia are finding greater alignment on key issues ranging from maritime security and economic resilience to regional connectivity and strategic autonomy.

Why Southeast Asia Has Become Central to India's Indo-Pacific Vision

For India, Southeast Asia is no longer simply a neighboring region—it is a critical pillar of its Indo-Pacific strategy and broader foreign policy ambitions. Home to some of the world's fastest-growing economies and strategically located along vital maritime trade routes, Southeast Asia plays a crucial role in shaping regional stability and economic prosperity.

The report notes that India–ASEAN relations have gained increasing importance as both sides seek to maintain an open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. ASEAN's centrality in regional architecture and India's growing role in regional affairs have created natural areas of convergence.

From maritime trade and connectivity to supply chain diversification and digital cooperation, Southeast Asia has become indispensable to India's long-term strategic calculations.

From Look East to Act East: Three Decades of Growing Engagement

India's relationship with Southeast Asia has undergone a remarkable transformation since the early 1990s. What began as the Look East Policy has evolved into the more ambitious Act East Policy, reflecting New Delhi's determination to deepen engagement with ASEAN countries across multiple sectors.

Today, India–Southeast Asia cooperation extends far beyond trade and investment. It encompasses defence collaboration, digital connectivity, infrastructure development, educational exchanges, technological partnerships, and people-to-people ties.

According to the ORF–RSIS study, this evolution demonstrates how India has moved from being an economic partner to becoming an increasingly significant strategic stakeholder in Southeast Asia.

The Act East Policy has also become closely aligned with India's Indo-Pacific vision, emphasizing cooperation, connectivity, and strategic autonomy while avoiding bloc politics.

Strategic Convergence in an Era of Great Power Competition

One of the most significant findings of the study is the growing strategic alignment between India and Southeast Asian nations amid intensifying competition among major powers.

The Indo-Pacific has become a focal point of geopolitical rivalry, particularly between the United States and China. At the same time, countries across the region face challenges related to maritime disputes, technological competition, economic fragmentation, and supply chain vulnerabilities.

In this complex environment, India and ASEAN countries share several important objectives.

Both seek to preserve strategic autonomy. Both support a rules-based international order. Both value freedom of navigation and open sea lanes. And both are cautious about becoming overly dependent on any single major power.

These shared concerns are creating opportunities for deeper cooperation in areas such as maritime security, defence partnerships, critical technologies, and regional connectivity initiatives.

Maritime Security and Defence Cooperation Gain Momentum

The report identifies India–ASEAN defence cooperation as one of the fastest-growing dimensions of the relationship.

In recent years, India has expanded security partnerships with several Southeast Asian countries. One of the most notable developments has been defence cooperation with the Philippines, including the export of the BrahMos missile system, marking a new chapter in India's role as a regional security partner.

India has also strengthened defence ties with countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore through military exercises, maritime dialogues, capacity-building initiatives, and strategic consultations.

Maritime security remains particularly important because both India and Southeast Asian countries depend heavily on secure sea lanes for trade and economic growth.

With critical shipping routes running through the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, maintaining freedom of navigation and maritime stability has become a shared strategic priority.

Technology, Supply Chains and Economic Resilience

Beyond security cooperation, the ORF–RSIS report highlights growing opportunities in technology and economic collaboration. The disruptions caused by recent global crises have exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains and manufacturing networks. As governments seek greater resilience, India and Southeast Asia are increasingly exploring new forms of cooperation in areas such as:

• Digital infrastructure

• Semiconductor ecosystems

• Artificial intelligence

• Advanced manufacturing

• Critical technologies

• Supply chain diversification

  
  

The study suggests that India and ASEAN countries can benefit significantly from building more diversified and resilient production ecosystems that reduce dependence on concentrated supply chains.

Such cooperation could strengthen economic security while creating new opportunities for investment, innovation, and industrial growth.

Unlocking the Full Potential of India–ASEAN Economic Relations

While strategic cooperation has expanded rapidly, the report notes that economic engagement still has considerable room for growth. Trade between India and ASEAN has increased substantially over the years, yet both sides continue to face challenges in realizing the full potential of their partnership.

The study recommends greater focus on improving connectivity infrastructure, facilitating trade, promoting investment flows, and strengthening digital economic cooperation.

As global businesses increasingly look to diversify operations, India and Southeast Asia have a unique opportunity to position themselves as complementary partners in emerging regional value chains.

The Bay of Bengal: A Strategic Bridge Between South and Southeast Asia

Another key takeaway from the report is the growing strategic importance of the Bay of Bengal.

Long regarded primarily as a geographical connector, the Bay is increasingly emerging as a vital economic and strategic space linking South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The study highlights the importance of maritime connectivity projects, regional infrastructure development, and cross-border trade initiatives in strengthening integration between the two regions.

India's northeastern states are also gaining prominence as gateways to Southeast Asia, creating new opportunities for commerce, connectivity, tourism, and people-to-people engagement.

Regional frameworks such as BIMSTEC are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting these efforts and promoting practical cooperation across multiple sectors.

What the Study Means for the Future of the Indo-Pacific

The ORF–RSIS study arrives at a crucial moment when the Indo-Pacific is undergoing profound geopolitical change. Its findings suggest that India and ASEAN are increasingly aligned in their pursuit of a stable, prosperous, and inclusive regional order. While challenges remain, the opportunities for deeper strategic, economic, and technological cooperation continue to expand.

Perhaps most importantly, the report demonstrates that India and Southeast Asia are not simply reacting to great power competition. Instead, they are actively shaping a regional vision based on partnership, resilience, connectivity, and strategic balance.

As India strengthens its engagement with ASEAN and Southeast Asian nations seek to preserve their autonomy amid global uncertainty, the India–Southeast Asia partnership is likely to emerge as one of the most consequential relationships shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific in the decades ahead.