ASEAN Full Form

ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a regional organization that fosters economic, political, and security cooperation among its 10 members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The ASEAN countries collectively have 650 million people and a combined GDP of $2.8 trillion. The group has been a driving force behind Asian economic integration, spearheading negotiations to form one of the world’s largest free trade blocs and signing six free trade agreements with other Asian economies.

According to analysts, ASEAN’s effectiveness is hampered due to bad strategy, divergent interests among member nations, and ineffective leadership. 

The five founding members of ASEAN, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, met in Bangkok on August 8, 1967, to form the organization. Brunei Darussalam joined on January 8, 1984, followed by Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Laos and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, 1999.

Principles 

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, signed at the First ASEAN Summit on February 24, 1976, stated that the following essential principles shall govern the High Contracting Parties in their dealings with one another:

• All nations must respect each other’s independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity
• Every state has the right to exist independently of foreign intervention, subversion, or force
• Non-interference in one another’s private lives
• Disputes or misunderstandings are resolved in a peaceful manner
• Refusal to use or threaten to use force
• They can work together effectively

Objectives of ASEAN

According to the ASEAN Declaration, the Association’s aims and purposes are to: 

(1) Establish the basis for a happy and peaceful community of Southeast Asian nations by accelerating regional economic growth, social advancement, and cultural improvement through collaborative activities in the spirit of equality and collaboration, and 

(2) Promote regional harmony and stability through abiding respect for justice and law in relationships among Southeast Asian nations. “Cooperative peace and shared prosperity should be the core aim of ASEAN,” the ASEAN Heads of State and Government reaffirmed in 1995.

ASEAN-India Relationship

The substantial modifications in the world’s political and economic landscape in the beginning of the 1990s and India’s march toward economic liberalization have prompted India to focus on a stronger and multi-faceted partnership with ASEAN. The ‘Look East Policy’ was born out of India’s need for economic space. In recent years, the Look East Policy has evolved into a vibrant, action-oriented “Act East Policy.” PM publicly enunciated the Act East Policy during the 12th ASEAN India Summit and the 9th East Asia Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, in November 2014.

The partnership between India and ASEAN is an important bone for our foreign policy and the bedrock of our Act East Policy. The relationship’s upgrade to a Strategic Partnership in 2012 was a natural evolution from India’s status as an ASEAN Sectoral Partner in 1992, Dialogue Partner in 1996, and Summit Level Partner in 2002. There are 30 Dialogue Mechanisms between India and ASEAN, which cover a wide range of topics.

ASEAN-India Centre

The Heads of Government recommended the establishment of the ASEAN-India Centre (AIC) at the Commemorative Summit in 2012 to promote the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership through policy research, advocacy, and networking activities with organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN. Since its inception in 2013, the AIC has served as a resource centre for the ASEAN Member States and India to enhance the ASEAN-India strategic relationship and encourage India-ASEAN engagement and collaboration in mutually beneficial sectors. By hosting seminars, roundtables, and other events, the AIC has offered feedback to policymakers in India and ASEAN on executing ASEAN-India connectivity programs. AIC also hosts workshops, seminars, and conferences on various topics related to the strategic alliance between ASEAN and India.

It engages in frequent networking activities with key public/private agencies, organizations, and 

think tanks in India, ASEAN, and EAS countries, to provide up-to-date information, data resources, and ongoing engagement to advance the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership.

Conclusion

ASEAN is a community for maintaining peace and security. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao DPR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam are among the ten countries that make up the organization. The peace and stability that we currently enjoy result from ASEAN’s tight political and security cooperation. Internal and intra-regional economic development is made feasible by peace and stability. As a result, economic progress and expansion mean more money in our pockets as a whole.