PM in Manila: Aligning act east, Indo-Pacific & MAHASAGAR policies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Manila from November 15 to 17 for the ASEAN Summit and associated meetings comes at a time when Southeast Asia is witnessing considerable strategic uncertainty. China's growing assertiveness in the seas, the unpredictability of American policies and the increasing competition for influence in the Indo-Pacific have left ASEAN countries searching for dependable partnerships without compromising their freedom of maneuver. Despite the regularity of Summit meetings and an expanding institutional framework, the India - ASEAN relationship has not acquired the economic depth or strategic weight that its potential warrants. Manila provides yet another occasion to address some of these requirements.

The maritime domain deserves more attention. Developments in the South China Sea affect the security of vital shipping routes, the movement of energy supplies and the wider balance of power in Asia. The US - China rivalry in the region continues unabated. India has consistently supported freedom of navigation, peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to international law. The designation of 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation has provided a useful platform for more sustained practical cooperation and the second version of Joint India ASEAN naval exercise was held in Subic Bay, Philippines, in September 2026. Maritime domain awareness, coast guard training, hydrographic assistance and information sharing are areas where India can continue to make meaningful progress with ASEAN. The Philippines and India will co-host a conference on maritime security and emerging technologies in 2027.

Equally important is the continuation of Quick Impact Projects, educational and cultural exchanges, and cooperation in renewable energy. India's physical connectivity projects with the region like the Trilateral highway and the Kaladan multi-modal project continue to be stalled due to the political situation in Myanmar, and digital connectivity initiatives should take precedence in the circumstances. Cooperation needs to be stepped up in solar power, electricity grids, and energy storage. These initiatives will help establish India's credentials as a long term, reliable development partner.


Although bilateral commerce has expanded substantially reaching $128b in 2025-26, the benefits have been uneven, with India facing sizeable trade deficit of $51b. The review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement has consequently assumed importance but has dragged on, and will continue in 2027. New Delhi should press for more equitable market access, stronger rules of origin and effective remedies against non-tariff barriers. A modernised agreement should facilitate Indian participation in regional manufacturing networks while opening opportunities in electronics, pharmaceuticals, services, renewable energy and emerging technologies.

From January 2000 through the end of 2025, cumulative FDI inflows from ASEAN countries into India reached $197 billion, and outward investment from India back into ASEAN has exceeded $70 billion, but is dominated both ways by Singapore, and needs diversification. Indian corporates primarily deploy capital into South East Asian IT hubs, telecommunications infrastructure, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, and maritime logistics. This needs to be diversified into the service sector, resource processing, localised digital consumer footprints, consumer goods, electronics, automotive components, green energy infrastructure, fintech, deeptech, and biotech.

The bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be among the more consequential engagements of the visit. Relations between India and the Philippines have acquired a new dimension following the establishment of a Strategic Partnership in 2025. Defense cooperation, once peripheral to the relationship, has moved to the forefront. The supply of BrahMos missiles has strengthened India's standing as a credible defense exporter and given Manila an additional capability at a time of mounting tensions in its maritime neighborhood.

The two sides must also progress on investment, maritime infrastructure, science and technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology, space applications and healthcare. India's experience in digital public infrastructure and affordable pharmaceuticals could be particularly useful to the Philippines.

The anticipated gathering of Quad leaders on the sidelines of the Summit adds a wider strategic dimension. For India, the Quad remains a useful instrument for cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia, particularly in maritime security, critical technologies, infrastructure and supply chain resilience. Its effectiveness, however, will depend increasingly on what it delivers rather than the declarations it produces.

India is looking to bring greater coherence to its regional diplomacy. Its Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific vision and MAHASAGAR initiative need to reinforce one another through stronger economic links, better connectivity, sustained maritime cooperation and more effective implementation of existing commitments.

The writer is a ex-Secretary (East), MEA.