Buffeted by U.S.-China great power competition, countries from the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are eager to enhance cooperation with other middle powers states, in some cases to balance against China, in others to avoid over-reliance on either Beijing or Washington, and always to advance mutual interests. Recent engagements with India and Australia highlight this dynamic. Over the past few years, the two countries have worked on elevating defense ties and deepening their economic relationships with Southeast Asian states including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Singapore.
India, facing border disputes with China similar to those faced by ASEAN nations, has been working to shore up ties with Southeast Asian countries as part of its “Act East” policy. Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim visited India on August 20, meeting with his counterpart Narendra Modi to discuss the expansion of economic ties and strengthening of defense and security cooperation. The two leaders signed new agreements covering digital technologies, tourism, and traditional medicine. Prime Minister Modi next plans to visit Singapore and Brunei in the first week of September.
India is a growing partner not only in trade and investment but also defense cooperation. The first ASEAN-India Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting took place in November 2022 followed by the first ASEAN-India maritime exercise in the South China Sea in May 2023. India has strengthened bilateral defense ties with Indonesia and supported the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral victory in the South China Sea. Delhi is also boosting arms sales in the region, as evidenced by the 2022 India-Philippines deal on BrahMos cruise missiles.
On the same day that Anwar traveled to Delhi, Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto visited Canberra to meet with Australian officials and finalize a new bilateral defense treaty. The two sides signed the Indonesia-Australia Defense Cooperation Agreement in Jakarta on August 29. The agreement, which took two years of negotiations, is being hailed by officials in both capitals as a historic achievement. Though the details have not yet been released, the Australian defense ministry said the agreement will enhance cooperation and interoperability between the two countries’ defense forces in maritime security, logistics support, training, and other areas.
Australia is a key partner to ASEAN, celebrating 50 years of partnership this year. In 2021, the grouping agreed to elevate its relationship with Australia to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Other than Indonesia, Australia has significantly shored up defense ties with the Philippines, even participating this year in multilateral exercises in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone with forces from the Philippines, Japan, and the United States.
Japhet Quitzon is a Research Associate for the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.
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