External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated in a speech that emphasised the Asian power's expanding global position that India is expanding the borders of its cooperation and interests further north and west with linkages to Central Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. India is expected to overtake Japan as the world's fourth-largest economy by 2025, according to IMF projections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched "The Neighbourhood First Policy for the Subcontinent" in India, offering funding for initiatives ranging from women's empowerment to health to infrastructure. However, it also has more extensive ties. States bordering the Indian Ocean to the south and Central Asia to the north are now included in India's expanded interests, according to Jaishankar. Additionally, it has been more active throughout Africa, particularly on the coast of East Africa.

India's emphasis on its wider neighbourhood is also demonstrated to the west by the country's increased collaboration with the Gulf countries, which are among its most important trading, investment, mining, and energy partners. These relationships are in addition to its long-standing ones with the ASEAN countries. In many ways, our economies complement one another, and we need to take those opportunities more seriously, he said. As two of the largest economies in Asia, Jaishankar continued, have a specific duty to enhance its stability and security. He conveyed India's willingness to develop defence cooperation and interoperability as well as our commitment to promoting amicable conflict resolution and adherence to international law.