India’s Act East Policy and Engagement with Southeast Asia and Oceania, 2014-2025
- 2026 |
- Monograph
About the Monograph
Over the past decade, India’s Act East Policy has shifted from occasional interaction to a steady, institutionalized presence across Southeast Asia and Oceania. This monograph argues that by prioritizing normative alignment, maritime security, and collaborative partnerships over coercive power, India has solidified its standing as a credible regional stakeholder. Future success depends on deepening functional cooperation and improving project execution to translate this established influence into long-term strategic relevance and regional stability.
Abouth The Author
Abhay Kumar Singh: Commodore Abhay Kumar Singh (Retd) was a Research Fellow at the Southeast Asia and Oceania Centre at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MPIDSA). He is an Indian Navy veteran with extensive command and staff experience spanning 27 years. A frequent contributor to journals and periodicals on geopolitical issues, he authored a book on the dynamics of India-China relations titled India-China Rivalry – Asymmetric No Longer: An Assessment of China’s Evolving Perceptions of India and co-edited a book titled UKRAINE WAR: Military Perspectives and Strategic Reflections.
Om Prakash Das: Dr. Om Prakash Das is a Research Fellow at the Southeast Asia & Oceania Centre of MPIDSA. He holds a PhD and has authored a book titled Strategic Communication, Manufacturing of Narratives and India–ASEAN Relations, a monograph titled म्यांमार: तलाश एक समावेशी राजनीतिक तंत्र की and research papers on communication and strategic issues in Southeast Asia.
Shruti Pandalai: Shruti Pandalai was an Associate Fellow at the Southeast Asia and Oceania Centre at MPIDSA. She worked on India’s foreign and security policy, with a focus on the evolving geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific. She also mapped developments in the India–China relationship, framing them within the realm of information operations.
Temjenmeren Ao: Dr Temjenmeren Ao is an Associate Fellow at the South East Asia and Oceania Centre in MPIDSA. He specialises in international relations and security issues in South East Asia. He has published extensively that includes chapters in edited books, journal articles and has also edited and co-edited books.
Simran Walia: Ms Simran Walia is a Research Analyst at the Southeast Asia and Oceania Centre at MPIDSA. She is pursuing PhD in Japanese Studies under the Centre for East Asian Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Her research areas and interests include Indo-Pacific dynamics, Japan’s Politics and Foreign Policy.
Keywords: Act East Policy, Southeast Asia
