Published Online:April 2025
Product Name:The IUP Journal of International Relations
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJIR020425
DOI:10.71329/IUPJIR/2025.19.2.31-45
Author Name:Rina Samanta
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Arts and Humanities
Download Format:PDF
Pages:31-45
India’s Act East Policy, formerly known as Look East Policy (LEP), is an innovative attempt that focuses on strengthening India’s ties with countries in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific area as a whole by leveraging their common strategic and economic interests. In particular, it connects India’s Northeastern states with the thriving economies of Southeast Asia through Myanmar, which serves as India’s only land gateway to Southeast Asia. The four Northeastern states of India—Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh—share a land border of approximately 1,643 km, and they also have a long maritime border that passes through the Andaman Sea, Coco Island, and the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, there is no denying Myanmar’s contribution to the appropriate execution of India’s Act East Policy. However, India is facing challenges due to Myanmar’s repeated military coups and steady shift towards China. Indeed, China’s growing footprints is a serious issue in India’s policy towards Myanmar, including India’s Act East Policy
The Act East Policy (AEP) (earlier known as Look East policy, LEP) is a continuation of India’s earlier policy towards Southeast Asia and beyond the Asia-Pacific Region. Indeed, the Asia-Pacific region has always been a center of attraction for Indian foreign policy makers. Prior to 1991, the primary focus was on the bilateral ties