The ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ concept is gaining a lot of traction in the recent times. The ASEAN is also deliberating to come up with an Indo-Pacific vision and strategy and this effort is being spearheaded by Indonesia. While delivering her speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 11 January 2018, entitled, “Partner for Peace, Security and Prosperity” Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi proposed the Indonesian concept of the Indo-Pacific (Konsep Arsitektur Indo-Pasifik). Prime Minister Modi’s speech at the Shangrila Dialogue on 1 June 2018, for the first time laid out India’s version of the Indo-Pacific concept. Both the concepts have a similar policy undertone. He mentioned, “Indo-Pacific stands for a free, open, inclusive region, which embraces all in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity. It includes all nations in this geography as also others beyond who have a stake in it. Southeast Asia is at its centre and, ASEAN has been and will be central to its future.” India and Indonesia have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement and both have a similar vision of maritime cooperation, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, India-Indonesia relations in the emerging dynamics of the Indo-Pacific can attain greater trajectories.
Harsh V Pant, Director, Studies and Head of the Strategic Studies Programme, ORF
H.E. Sidharto Suryodipuro, Ambassador of Indonesia to India
Vibhanshu Shekhar, Scholar in Residence, American University Washington DC
Premesha Saha, Associate Fellow, ORFThe event is from 11:00 to 12:30pm
