India's Act East Policy has traditionally emphasised ASEAN. Examine the strategic significance of India–South Korea defence cooperation in the broader Indo-Pacific security framework.

Q. India's Act East Policy has traditionally emphasised ASEAN. Examine the strategic significance of India–South Korea defence cooperation in the broader Indo-Pacific security framework. (15 marks, 250-350 words)

India's Act East Policy has been institutionally ASEAN-centric, yet its Indo-Pacific logic extends to Northeast Asia. The elevation of India–Republic of Korea (ROK) ties to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2015 [1][2], and the Joint Strategic Vision (2026–2030) adopted during President Lee Jae Myung's State Visit [3], mark Seoul as a significant — though still under-utilised — defence node in this framework.

Strategic and maritime convergence - Both sides articulate a free, open, rules-based Indo-Pacific; ROK's accession to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) embeds it in an India-led maritime architecture [3]. - The inaugural bilateral naval exercise (October 2025, INS Sahyadri with ROKS Nojeokbong) signals movement from declaratory to operational cooperation [1]. - As a US treaty ally, ROK links India's Act East reach to Northeast Asian security, extending Act East beyond its ASEAN core.

Defence-industrial and technological significance - The K9 Vajra-T (155mm/52-calibre) programme is the flagship outcome: MoD's ₹7,628.70-crore follow-on contract with L&T (December 2024) for 100 guns under Buy (Indian) [4]. - Fresh L&T–Hanwha agreements (May 2026) deepen industry-to-industry technology partnership [5], supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat and supply-chain diversification away from single-source dependence.

Widening functional domains - 2026 MoUs on defence cyber cooperation, NDC–KNDU training exchange, and UN peacekeeping broaden ties beyond hardware into doctrine, personnel and non-traditional security [5].

Constraints - Cooperation remains transactional and platform-led; joint R&D, emerging-technology co-development and start-up linkages lag behind frameworks India runs with the US and Japan, and procurement timelines slow agile collaboration.

India–ROK defence ties thus give Act East a Northeast Asian dimension, converting a trade-heavy relationship into a security one. Institutionalising joint R&D and defence-innovation exchange, alongside sustained naval interoperability, would let the Joint Strategic Vision mature into a genuine pillar of Indo-Pacific stability — consistent with India's declared vision of a free, open and inclusive regional order.

(~305 words)

Sources: 1. India–Republic of Korea Bilateral Relations, MEA (December 2025) — diplomatic relations since 1973, Strategic Partnership 2010 upgraded to Special Strategic Partnership 2015; inaugural bilateral naval exercise October 2025 2. India–Republic of Korea Joint Statement for Special Strategic Partnership, PIB (2015) — 2015 elevation of the partnership 3. Joint Strategic Vision for India–ROK Special Strategic Partnership, PIB (April 2026) — five-year vision (2026–30), shared free/open Indo-Pacific vision, ROK joining IPOI 4. Aatmanirbhar Bharat: MoD inks Rs 7,629 crore contract with L&T for K9 Vajra-T, PIB (December 2024) — ₹7,628.70 crore, 155mm/52-calibre, Buy (Indian) category 5. Raksha Mantri holds bilateral talks with Minister of National Defence, Republic of Korea in Seoul, PIB (May 2026) — MoUs on defence cyber, NDC–KNDU training, UN peacekeeping; L&T–Hanwha industry agreements