ISAS Special Reports

Since the early 1990s, under the thrust of its 'Look East' policy, India's ties with its Asian neighbours to the East have expanded significantly. After briefly describing India's historical connections with East and Southeast Asia and their place in India's foreign policy thinking until the 1990s, this report details India's economic, political, geo-strategic, and 'soft-power' ties with the region since the end of the Cold War. Although India's concerted thrust eastward has resulted in a thicker web of interactions, its medium and long-term strategy towards the region and its individual countries remains tentative and is still evolving. Silent competition with China is often present. India has not yet made the best of its soft-power assets in the region and can do much more on this front.