ASEAN Latest News

The 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT) was recently held in New Delhi.

About the Meeting

• Table-top counter-terrorism exercise to be held in Malaysia (2026) and a field training exercise in India (2027) under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT).
• India and Malaysia have assumed co-chairmanship of EWG on CT (2024-2027).
• The European Union (EU) hosted a workshop in New Delhi on preventing and countering violent extremism, emphasising India-EU counterterrorism cooperation.

What is ASEAN?

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation aimed at political, economic, and security cooperation.
• Established: August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
• Motto: "One Vision, One Identity, One Community."
• Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Member States (10 Nations):
  • Founding Members (1967): Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.
  • Later Additions: Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos & Myanmar (1997), Cambodia (1999).
• Economic & Demographic Strength:
  • Total Population: 662 million (2022).
  • Combined GDP: $3.2 trillion (2022).

Institutional Mechanism of ASEAN

• ASEAN Summit: Meets annually to discuss regional issues and set policy directions. Chaired by a rotating presidency.
• ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC): Oversees implementation of ASEAN agreements and decisions.
• ASEAN Secretariat: Supports and facilitates ASEAN’s activities and initiatives.
• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): Platform for dialogue on political and security issues among ASEAN members and their dialogue partners. India joined in 1996.
• Decision-Making Process: Based on consultation and consensus.

ASEAN-India Relations

• India became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1992 and a Full Dialogue Partner in 1996.
• Joined the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1996.
• India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed in 2009 (Goods) and 2014 (Services & Investments).
• ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership was established in 2012.
• India actively participates in ADMM-Plus (ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus).

ASEAN Future Forum

• Proposed by Vietnam in 2023 (43rd ASEAN Summit).
• A common platform for ASEAN member states and partners to share ideas and policy recommendations.
• India is a founding member.

ASEAN FAQs

Q1. What is ASEAN?

Ans. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization formed to promote economic, political, and security cooperation among Southeast Asian countries.

Q2. When and where was ASEAN founded?

Ans. ASEAN was founded on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.

Q3. How many member countries are in ASEAN?

Ans. ASEAN has 10 member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Q4. Does India have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with ASEAN?

Ans. Yes, India and ASEAN signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Goods in 2009, which was expanded to Services and Investments in 2014.

Source: TH

About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):

• It is a regional intergovernmental organization of ten Southeast Asian countries.
• It was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration).
• Member States: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.
• It promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration between its members and other countries in Asia.
• Secretariat: The ASEAN Secretariat, located in Jakarta, Indonesia, and led by a secretary-general, coordinates the work of ASEAN member states and their associated bodies. 
• Functioning:
  • It is headed by a chair—a position that rotates annually among member states.
  • Important decisions are usually reached through consultation and consensus guided by the principles of noninterference in internal affairs and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

What is East Asia Summit?

• It is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18 countries of the Asia-Pacific region formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity.
• Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss issues of common interest and concern, in an open and transparent manner, at the highest level.
• The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the USA.
• EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN.

Q1) What is RCEP?

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a comprehensive free trade agreement being negotiated between the 10 ASEAN Member States and ASEAN's free trade agreement (FTA) partners viz. Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

Source: PM Modi arrives in Indonesia to attend Asean-India, East Asia Summits