CURRENT AFFAIRS | 25 JULY 2026
During his Philippines visit (21–22 July 2026), EAM S. Jaishankar attended the ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Manila, reaffirming India’s commitment to the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The headline takeaway
With 2026 designated the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, the engagement foregrounded maritime security, connectivity and the blue economy. Jaishankar also held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines to review and expand sectoral cooperation with participating countries — all squarely within India’s Act East Policy.
Concept Framework
ASEAN — a ten-member regional organisation founded in 1967 (Bangkok Declaration); India is a Dialogue Partner (full since 1996).
EAS — an ASEAN-led summit-level strategic forum.
ARF — ASEAN’s security-dialogue and confidence-building forum.
The CLAT Angle
Multilateral groupings recur every year in CLAT GK. Nail the ASEAN basics — founding year, member count, India’s Dialogue-Partner status — and distinguish the EAS and ARF from ASEAN itself. ‘Act East’ vs ‘Look East’ is a favourite one-mark trap.
Key Facts
| Visit | Manila, Philippines — 21–22 July 2026 |
| Meetings | ASEAN-India, EAS & ARF Foreign Ministers’ meetings |
| Partnership | ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership |
| Theme of 2026 | ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation |
| ASEAN founded | 1967 (Bangkok Declaration), 10 members |
| Policy driver | India’s Act East Policy |
Memory Hook
“SEA-10” for ASEAN’s ten Southeast-Asian members, and “EAST” = EAS + ARF + ASEAN-India + Strategic partnership — the four Manila tracks. 2026 = Maritime year (M for the year of the Meeting).
Why it matters
ASEAN sits at the heart of the Indo-Pacific, and India’s Act East engagement is how New Delhi builds economic and maritime depth to its east. The ‘Year of Maritime Cooperation’ framing ties this year’s diplomacy neatly to the sea-lane security theme running through the Quad meeting the same week.
Test Yourself
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
