Amid rising US-China Competition in Southeast Asia, India’s Act East policy faces new dynamics

By Gadde Omprasad

US President Donald Trump ’s participation in the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur reflects the US’s renewed focus on Southeast Asia, particularly in countering China’s influence in the region through greater economic and diplomatic engagements. Reports indicated that the military junta in Myanmar also expressed interest in discussing tariff issues with the US administration, suggesting an attempt to balance relations with China and an opening for US influence in Myanmar’s economic sphere. Other developments in the region, too, suggest an evolving US long-term strategic outlook near India’s eastern periphery.

The United States seems to be increasingly active in India’s eastern neighbourhood, particularly in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the Bay of Bengal region, as part of t