India's Act East Policy

The Act East Policy — the evolution of the 1990s-era Look East approach — remains India's vehicle for deepening strategic and economic ties with Southeast and East Asia. It continues to work in tandem with the Neighbourhood First Policy, particularly through India's Northeast, which shares borders with several Act East partner countries. Connectivity and defence cooperation with ASEAN nations, along with trilateral frameworks involving Japan and the US, remain central pillars, with parliamentary committees repeatedly urging tighter synergy between Act East and Neighbourhood First execution on the ground.