New delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation to strengthen regional ties and promote peace and security. Speaking virtually at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit, Modi highlighted ongoing collaborations in maritime security, disaster relief, and the blue economy.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Modi expressed India’s support for digital inclusion, food security, and resilient supply chains. He emphasized India’s commitment to advancing these priorities in cooperation with ASEAN partners. Modi noted India’s rapid increase in collaboration with ASEAN in areas like Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime security, and the blue economy as reasons for declaring 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation.
Modi further stated that India and ASEAN are enhancing cooperation in education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy, and cybersecurity. On October 23, he reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening ASEAN-India relations and deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the bloc.
He also emphasized India’s unwavering support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, underscoring ASEAN as a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy, which aims to enhance ties with Southeast Asian countries and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Highlighting the shared values and historic ties between India and ASEAN, Modi noted that both represent one-fourth of the world’s population and share deep historic ties and values. He emphasized the importance of nurturing shared cultural heritage and strengthening people-to-people ties.
Modi congratulated Anwar on his successful ASEAN chairmanship and thanked Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr for his role as country coordinator for India. He welcomed Timor-Leste as the newest ASEAN member and extended condolences to Thailand’s royal family on the passing of Queen Mother, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
India became ASEAN’s dialogue partner in 1996, with bilateral trade reaching USD106.83 billion in 2024, up from USD100.72 billion in 2023. However, foreign direct investment from India to ASEAN decreased by 34.97 percent to USD3.31 billion in 2024, from USD5.09 billion in 2023.