Northeast Narratives

In the era of the Indo-Pacific, India’s Northeast has emerged as a region of considerable significance, serving as a potential gateway to the broader contours of this geostrategic framework. It is India’s only land connection with Southeast Asia, and along with Bangladesh, it forms the hinterland of the Bay of Bengal. These attributes make it a natural platform for the manifestation of India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First policies and the realisation of its vision of the Indo-Pacific.  

Located at the juncture of South and Southeast Asia, the Northeast is also a strategic geography for countries seeking to strengthen ties with both geopolitical blocs. As the world grapples with transnational challenges, fostering interconnectedness is crucial. This region aligns with the US priority of creating a free and open Indo-Pacific. However, the Northeast faces significant challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, low levels of cross-border trade, and developmental concerns that thwart its integration into the wider Indo-Pacific region. As long-standing partners, India and the US have the potential to collaborate toward developing this region, as the first step in building a free, connected, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Against this backdrop, the Observer Research Foundation, in collaboration with the US Consulate General Kolkata, is organising the U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific: North Eastern Dialogue. Through policy dialogues at both regional and national levels, the project aims to create a comprehensive understanding of the region’s challenges and opportunities in connectivity, trade, and economic prosperity. A major focus of the Dialogue is assessing the region's physical and digital connectivity. It also explores ways in which India-US cooperation can enhance trade logistics and fill infrastructural gaps. 

The “Northeast Narratives” series captures the highlights of the discussions in these policy dialogues, with a series of collected essays by select authors. The themes encompass connectivity, commerce, and economic prosperity, as well as the geopolitical importance of India’s Northeast within the broader context of the Indo-Pacific.