ASEAN–India Cooperation: Maritime Security and Trade on Agenda at 23rd Summit in Manila

The news

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Manila on Monday, November 16, 2026, for a three-day visit to attend the 23rd ASEAN-India Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit. The Philippines is hosting the summits as the current chair of the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The visit, which runs until November 18, is expected to focus on boosting maritime security cooperation and enhancing trade and investment ties, according to Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry.

Mr. Modi may also join Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the proposed annual Quad summit in Manila, though the Ministry of External Affairs said it has no information on a Quad meeting at this time. The East Asia Summit, which began in 2005, brings together ASEAN members and dialogue partners including India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia. The theme of this year's ASEAN Summit is 'Navigating the Future'.

When did India become an ASEAN dialogue partner?

India became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992, a relationship that was elevated to full dialogue partner status in 1995. The annual ASEAN-India Summit was institutionalised in 2002, and the partnership was further upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2012. The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) was signed in 2009 and entered into force in 2010, establishing a free trade area for goods. The East Asia Summit, which India joined as a founding member, was established in 2005 as a leaders-led forum for strategic dialogue on political, security and economic issues.

What is the status of the ASEAN-India trade review?

Asked about the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), Secretary Tandon said New Delhi favours the review of the trade pact to be completed as soon as possible. 'That conversation is ongoing,' he said, indicating that the review has not yet concluded.

Why is the Quad summit unconfirmed?

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the next Quad summit would be held on the margins of the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines. However, India's Ministry of External Affairs has not confirmed the meeting. India had planned to host the Quad Leaders' Summit the previous year, but it did not take place because there was no clarity from Washington on President Trump's visit to the country.