2.2.1. Background

♤ India and South East Asia have age old cultural and civilisation ties. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam spread from India to the region and the imprint of this shared cultural heritage is also seen in art forms and architecture.

♤ Geography played an important role in the maritime connectivity through the Monsoon.

♤ British colonial period saw many from India to migrate to the region and the Indian

National Army received support from this region.

♤ Cold war period saw estrangement as the region came under the American influence and India charted its own path. Nonetheless Indonesia was an important part of the NAM.

♤ The End of Cold war brought new orientation and India moved ahead with the “ Look East Policy” to cement ties with the region

♤ In recent times the Act East policy of India accords greater significance to the region.

♤ Apart from ASEAN, India has taken other policy initiatives in the region that involve some members of ASEAN like BIMSTEC, MGC etc. India is also an active participant in several regional forums like the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting + (ADMM+) and Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF).

♤ In the present geopolitical situation, Southeast Asia is the most important focal point of India's foreign policy.

♤ By focusing on connectivity, the government wants to make the point that it considers the region a part of its immediate, not extended, neighbourhood, given that it shares maritime boundaries with some countries and also land boundary in the case of Myanmar.