Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the 47th ASEAN Summit ablaze Sunday, branding the 10-nation bloc the unshakeable “main pillar” of India’s Act East Policy while boldly shifting focus from trade to profound cultural alliance. Addressing leaders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, Modi highlighted that India and ASEAN together represent nearly one-fourth of the world’s population, bound by shared geography, ancient heritage, and a fierce Global South identity. He cast New Delhi as ASEAN’s most dependable partner amid rising geopolitical tensions, climate emergencies, and economic volatility sweeping the Indo-Pacific region.

This year’s summit themes of inclusivity and sustainability perfectly align with ongoing India-ASEAN collaborations in digital inclusion, food security, and resilient supply chains, Modi emphasized. He committed India to co-building green shipping lanes, renewable energy networks, and disaster-proof coastal zones, pointing to the $1 billion connectivity credit line already funding cross-border rail and smart ports. Joint cyclone early-warning systems recently saved thousands in Odisha and the Philippines, showcasing seamless real-time coordination between Indian and ASEAN meteorology teams.

In a game-changing announcement, Modi declared 2026 the ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation Year, promising a massive surge in joint naval exercises, marine research, and blue economy ventures. “India has always rushed aid during ASEAN disasters—HADR missions, tsunami recovery, flood relief,” he recalled, citing Indian Navy ships in Cyclone-hit Myanmar and earthquake-struck Indonesia. The initiative includes an India-ASEAN Ocean Ring satellite system for maritime surveillance and a $500 million fund for mangrove restoration and sustainable fisheries across shared waters.

Also Read: PM Modi Declares “Phir Ek Baar Sushasan Sarkar” in Bihar, Backs Nitish Kumar as NDA’s Face

Culture emerged as Modi’s emotional core. He unveiled a Digital Ramayana Trail connecting Ayodhya with Angkor Wat and Borobudur, expanded Nalanda University scholarships to 1,000 ASEAN students by 2027, and proposed twinning UNESCO sites like Mahabalipuram with Luang Prabang. A streaming platform will restore classic films from India, Thailand, and Indonesia. “Two millennia ago our monks carried Buddhist texts; today our startups carry innovation,” Modi quipped, earning smiles. Bilateral trade crossed $120 billion in 2024; an upgraded FTA by 2026 aims for $200 billion with UPI-QR code integration.

Modi thanked “friend” Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim for the invite, extended condolences to Thailand over Queen Mother Sirikit’s passing, and reaffirmed ironclad support for ASEAN centrality against external dominance. As Malaysia hands the chair to Laos, Modi’s heritage-tech fusion locks India as ASEAN’s indispensable partner for the decade ahead.

Also Read: PM Modi Launches ‘Pratibha Setu Portal,’ Urges Youth to Drive India’s Growth Through Nation-Building