thediplomat-asean-flags-553x360 Courtesy: The Diplomat
28 March 2019

An ASEAN trio in transition

Philippines, Cambodia and Lao PDR face a range of development challenges at home even as they respond dynamically to shifting priorities in external relations. With U.S.-China competition increasingly shaping this part of the world, will India provide some balance? An insider’s account of how three less noticed ASEAN countries are coping with geopolitical changes

32015837878_7c9f57e917_o Courtesy: MEA/Flickr
29 November 2018

ASEAN-India Connectivity

The following remarks were given by Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House as a speaker at the ASEAN-India Business Summit on November 27, 2018.

W020161205495849938669 Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
22 November 2018

Laos: balancing Asian powers

Laos has come a long way from being an exotic kingdom and scene of violent conflict to relative political stability and pragmatic external relations. With External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj currently on a visit to Laos, this is the time for the two countries to focus on scaling up bilateral cooperation

India-ASEAN Zee News Courtesy: Zee News
26 July 2018

Locating India-ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific

Indonesia and Malaysia appreciate India’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific, but are also aware of all that keeps it from delivering on its commitments. A policy visit to the two countries enabled a closer look at some key issues, such as ASEAN’s centrality, the Quad and India’s stand on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

39193431214_e3dd4eff86_o (1) Courtesy: MEA/ Flickr
28 June 2018

Indo-Pacific in flux

Change and uncertainty have marked geopolitical equations in the East Asian segment of the Indo-Pacific in the last six months. India-China relations changed visibly for the better while the U.S.-China trade war became more polarised. The Quad remained inert as did negotiations on the proposed Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. An analysis of some of the major trends

MANILA, Nov. 14, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Participants pose for group photos during the 15th ASEAN-India Summit in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 14, 2017. The 15th ASEAN-India Summit was held here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/IANS) Courtesy:
24 January 2018

Cementing 25 years of India-ASEAN relations

Prime Minister Modi's Act East policy is taking visible shape as leaders of the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) take their place as chief guests at India's 2018 Republic Day celebrations. This is unprecedented as New Delhi’s January 26 celebration has never had this large a number of chief guests. The year 2017 marked 50 years of ASEAN’s creation, and also 25 years of India-ASEAN relations.

MANILA, Nov. 14, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Participants pose for group photos during the 15th ASEAN-India Summit in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 14, 2017. The 15th ASEAN-India Summit was held here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/IANS) Courtesy: MEA/ Flickr
18 January 2018

India-ASEAN: salute to a commemorative summit

This is a partnership that has been based on mutuality, economic cooperation and undisputed political closeness ever since ASEAN’s inception. Now, the path into the future has to be different: creating a new security architecture and determining ASEAN’s role in the Quad are overarching questions that cannot be wished away