Southeast Asia

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.

The central theme of this monograph is to analyse the emerging security architecture in Southeast Asia. The evolving internal and external developments which confronts Southeast Asian countries has led to the emergence of a complex regional security environment. The ongoing United States-China rivalry in which Southeast Asia finds itself at the centre, is a key factor in shaping the regional security outlook. The study examines the role of ASEAN in shaping the security architecture centered on its norms and upholding multilateralism. However, the ineffectiveness of ASEAN as an informal security arrangement raises concern over the future of security multilateralism. Further, at a time of weakening multilateralism, along with the emergence of new and renewed security alignments being witnessed in the Indo-Pacific; the ASEAN's centrality comes under increasing pressure. Therefore, an examination into the role of major powers and the new bilateral and mini-lateral security arrangements, provides the future roadmap for security multilateralism in Southeast Asia.

The ADMM-Plus plays a critical role in building regional solidarity through practical cooperation.

Rising anti-government protests in Southeast Asia can potentially disrupt foreign trade and investment.

The ‘State of Southeast Asia’ 2025 survey indicates that the escalating US–China rivalry provides an opportunity for other major powers to positively shape the region’s geopolitical landscape.

Southeast Asia remains a key partner for the US given that both sides have multiple shared interests.

The US’ immediate response to 9/11 attacks marked the acme of its global hegemonic might, but the 7/10 attacks have fully exposed its receding geopolitical and technological ascendance.

New mini-laterals are taking shape to address the considerable challenges facing the ASEAN-centered regional security architecture.

Even as Vietnam has Southeast Asia's largest installed solar and wind power capacity, coal will continue to be the country’s primary source of energy till 2030.

The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) Initiative aims to enhance regional maritime security via technology and training support.