ASEAN Centrality

ASEAN centrality means that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations occupies the leading convening and agenda-shaping position in the Indo-Pacific regional architecture. It seeks to organise cooperation through ASEAN-led mechanisms, while preserving an open, inclusive, rules-based and consensus-oriented regional order rather than allowing any single major power to dominate it.

Institutional expression

ASEAN provides common platforms through which regional and external powers discuss political, economic and security issues. Its centrality is expressed through institutions built around ASEAN participation and convening authority.

• The East Asia Summit is a leaders-led forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economic issues.
• The ASEAN Regional Forum promotes political and security dialogue and confidence-building.
• The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus facilitates practical defence and security cooperation between ASEAN members and partner countries.
• Other ASEAN-centred arrangements include ASEAN Plus Three and ASEAN's dialogue partnerships.

Principles and strategic purpose

The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific presents the region as one of dialogue and cooperation rather than rivalry. Centrality therefore combines ASEAN's institutional role with norms such as openness, inclusivity, respect for sovereignty, non-intervention, peaceful settlement of disputes and international law.

• It gives smaller and middle powers a relatively neutral platform for engaging competing major powers.
• It supports an inclusive regional architecture, avoiding exclusive blocs and rigid spheres of influence.
• Its effectiveness depends on ASEAN unity, credibility and capacity to reach consensus; centrality denotes leadership and convening power, not regional dominance.

Relevance for India

India treats a united and central ASEAN as an important element of its Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. ASEAN-led forums allow India to deepen maritime, economic, connectivity and security cooperation while supporting an open, inclusive and rules-based regional order.

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