India and ASEAN Deepen Strategic Ties at 22nd Summit; Declare 2026 Year of Maritime Cooperation
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Institutions: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
The 22nd ASEAN-India Summit was held on October 26, 2025, with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participating virtually from New Delhi. Hosted by Malaysia, the summit reviewed the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and affirmed India’s continued support for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Unity, ASEAN Centrality, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). In a major roadmap announcement, the Prime Minister declared 2026 as the “ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation,” proposing greater collaboration in the blue economy, maritime security, and disaster response.
The leaders agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, with PM Modi stressing the urgency of an early review of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AITIGA) to unlock the full potential of the relationship. Discussions focused on key areas for collaboration, including counter-terrorism, disaster preparedness and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and emerging technologies like semiconductors and rare earths. India announced support for the implementation of the new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030) and offered to train 400 professionals in renewable energy for the ASEAN Power Grid initiative.
The summit saw India welcome Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN and convey continued support for its human development. New initiatives proposed by India include organizing the Second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, establishing a Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Nalanda University, and holding the East Asia Summit Maritime Heritage Festival at Lothal, Gujarat.
The designation of 2026 as the Year of Maritime Cooperation clearly signals a strategic pivot towards enhancing security and economic linkages across the crucial sea lanes of the Indo-Pacific. The push for an AITIGA review is a major trade policy priority aimed at reducing India’s trade deficit and improving market access for Indian goods and services, which is essential for sustaining economic growth and deepening regional supply chain integration.
What does “ASEAN Centrality” mean in India’s foreign policy? → ASEAN Centrality refers to India’s policy position, asserted under the Act East Policy, that ASEAN should remain the primary driving force in the regional architecture for the Indo-Pacific—meaning all major powers should cooperate through ASEAN-led mechanisms rather than sidelining the bloc.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: Following the announcement of the Maritime Year and the call for the AITIGA review, what concrete, time-bound incentives should India introduce to rapidly scale up private sector investment in key ASEAN member nations?
Follow the full news here: Prime Minister’s participation in the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur