Whither the look east policy: India and Southeast Asia

Abstract India's policy with Southeast Asia, which took a distinctive shape since the early 1990s in the form of the Look East policy, has been a multi‐pronged approach encompassing political, strategic and economic aspects. Apart from establishing institutional linkages with ASEAN and strengthening bilateral relations with its member states, especially in the field of defence, India has been an enthusiastic participant and supporter of multilateralism in Asia‐Pacific. While this policy has so far been reasonably successful, a new phase has begun with the ASEAN Plus One Summit meetings underscoring the growing importance of India to Southeast Asia and vice versa. The other major aspects is that India has become a vital part of the larger Asia‐Pacific strategic landscape.