Why India Isn't Really Acting East In Mizoram

New Delhi has a lot left to do to actually realize its grand ambitions

- Jonathan Tai

As an ascendant economic and political power, India has long been eager to assert its influence on the global stage, particularly in neighboring Southeast Asia. India’s intentions for foreign engagement are best articulated in its so-called Act East policy, an ambitious effort to elevate Indian influence via economic and strategic links with the subregion. Myanmar, Close and Historical Geographical Ties

Central to New Delhi’s strategic aims is the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar, a gateway to connecting India to the rest of the subregion. Yet despite steps toward implementing its policy, there seems to be little focused engagement with Myanmar. Indeed, India must begin to formulate a cohesive and coherent strategy to execute, particularly in light of China’s rapid progress on its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), if it hopes to realize the fullest potential of its Act East policy.

The Look East policy, which preceded the Act East variant heard today, was first proposed and developed during the administration of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. Despite this ambitious plan, subsequent efforts did not manifest into what many hoped to be a vigorous Indian foreign engagement, and ultimately failed to perform what some saw as the intended counterbalance to burgeoning Chinese influence within Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled India’s response in an attempt to revive its initial agenda: the Act East policy. The reinvigorated policy, revealed in November 2014 at the annual Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, represented India’s version of a recharged pivot to Asia. Indeed, the rebranded name alone inspires a markedly more proactive approach, an orientation that Modi emphasized in a pledge toward ‘cooperation in advancing balance, peace, and stability in the region.’