PM Modi's Big ASEAN Play: Declares 2026 Maritime Cooperation Year, Pushes 'Viksit Bharat' Goal

This special report focuses on India's diplomatic engagements at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, featuring External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his virtual address, Prime Minister Modi powerfully stated, 'ikkiswi sadi hamaari sadi hai. Bharat aur Asian Ki sadi hai' (The 21st century is our century. It is the century of India and ASEAN). The key focus was the high-level meeting between EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where discussions centered on contentious issues like India's Russian oil purchases and the United States' strategic partnership with Pakistan. Meanwhile, PM Modi reaffirmed India's 'Act East' policy, announcing 2026 as the 'ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation' and linking the 'ASEAN Community Vision 2045' with the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.