Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that India's transformation in bolstering multipolarity in Asia is significant.
He highlithed this point during his speech at the Future Asia Forum, emphasizing that this is crucial for a Multipolar World to emerge. Jaishankar, discussing "India's role in a World of Uncertainty," stressed India's essential input into the shaping the future of Asia.
The top diplomat emphasized India's strong belief in the constructive potential of a united and robust Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) within the evolving regional landscape of the Indo-Pacific.
“The Trilateral Highway from India to Thailand and beyond, when completed, will literally bring our regions much closer. India and ASEAN members also cooperate closely under various sub-regional mechanisms like the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle and the BIMSTEC,” Jaishankar asserted.
Highlighting ASEAN's crucial role in India's Act East policy and its broader Indo-Pacific strategy, he stressed the importance of increased representation and influence from the Global South in international affairs.
He underlined India's broadened interests, not just from Central Asia to the Indian Ocean, but in Africa as well, particularly along the continent's east coast. Notably, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) offers an alternative route to access Eurasia and beyond.
“Indian naval ships are currently operating in the Red Sea to protect maritime shipping. India has been a First Responder for natural disasters across the Indian Ocean, sometimes even beyond,” the External Affairs Minister noted.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy reported that it was involved in 18 incidents where they provided assistance to multiple nations amidst the heightened threat of pirate attacks, which were exacerbated by drone and missile strikes.
Jaishankar further pointed out the synergy between India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP), offering a robust framework for cooperation aimed at addressing comprehensive security challenges.
During the East Asia Summit in Bangkok in 2019, Narendra Modi unveiled the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) aimed at providing safety, security, and stability in maritime spaces. This initiative is built on seven key pillars which include ecology, resources, scientific and technical cooperation, among others.