The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an international organization that gained legal personality when the ASEAN Charter entered into force on December 15, 2008. It was founded in 1967 by five nations—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand—with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). The organization was created during the Cold War to promote regional stability, accelerate economic growth, and foster cooperation in a politically turbulent region.
ASEAN's mechanism is governed by the ASEAN Charter, which establishes the principle of consultation and consensus for decision-making, as outlined in Article 20. The organization's work is structured around three core pillars: the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The supreme policy-making body is the ASEAN Summit, which meets twice a year.
For an informed Indian reader, ASEAN is central to the regional architecture, connecting to India through the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Plus Six grouping. India also has a strategic partnership with the bloc, exemplified by the ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement signed in 2014. A recent significant change is the conclusion of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) in May 2026, which is targeted for signing in November 2026 and aims to create a US$2 trillion regional digital economy. Additionally, Timor-Leste became a full member of ASEAN in 2026, expanding the bloc to eleven member states.