India’s Defence Diplomacy with Southeast Asia: An Impetus to Act East

India’s Act East policy is delivering results its approach towards Southeast Asia. India’s improving stature in the region along with other key geopolitical players has heralded its arrival as a major regional power in the power matrix. In fact, India is in a unique position in the region in terms of defence and military engagement and must explore this potential further. India satisfies all the attributes needed for robust interaction in the military sphere. Unlike other major powers, India does not have any territorial disputes with regional countries; moreover, the absence of historical baggage in Southeast Asia works to her advantage. Despite this, India lacks a robust policy or enhanced interaction in terms of defence diplomacy with regional countries. This article explores the defence diplomacy potential for India’s Act East policy and seeks to provide actionable areas for further consideration.

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