Book Description

The changes in the global environment such as the demise of the socialist system, initiation of globalization, the declining position of international organizations and reduction in the importance of forums like NAM have made it imperative for India to review its old foreign policy nuances. For long, India hardly regarded the countries of Southeast Asia and South Pacific as priority areas despite the latter's cultural, political, economic and strategic significance. The long spell of mutual alienation understandably gave way to mutual distrust and suspicion. This dark period in India's relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and South Pacific was, however, brought to an end following the reshaping and reorientation of India's foreign policy, manifest in the vigorous pursuit of 'Look East' policy, it was Prime Minister Narasimha Rao who concentrated on forging links and enhancing cultural, economic, political and strategic cooperation with Southeast Asia and transformed this important urge into India's foreign policy initiative that culminated in 'Look East' policy. India's engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) started with its Look East Policy in the year 1991. ASEAN has a membership of 10 countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. India became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992 and full dialogue partner in 1996. In November 2001, the ASEAN-India relationship was upgraded to the summit level. Consequently, the latter had already registered impressive progress in the field of economy, strategy and cultural relations between India and ASEAN.