ASEAN-India Summit 2025: Modi declares 2026 as the 'year of ASEAN-India maritime cooperation'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually attended the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit on Sunday, underscoring India’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the Southeast Asian bloc.

The Summit, hosted in Kuala Lumpur, was attended at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, coinciding with the 47th ASEAN Summit.

During the event, PM Modi highlighted the growing strategic ties between India and ASEAN, noting that together they represent nearly one-fourth of the world’s population. “We do not just share geography; we are also connected by the thread of deep historical ties and shared values,” he remarked.


In a significant development, Timor-Leste was formally inducted into ASEAN, bringing the group’s membership to 11 countries.

Emphasising collaboration, PM Modi announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the ‘ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation’, signalling a focus on joint efforts in maritime security, trade, and sustainable development.

Reflecting on the partnership, he described India and ASEAN as “fellow travellers of the Global South,” highlighting their shared vision for peace, prosperity, and regional stability.