Big multilateral summits usually sound like scripted theater. Global leaders stand at podiums, read prepared statements about peace, and take group photos. But if you want to know where real international strategy actually gets hammered out, you have to look at the side rooms.
That was on full display in Manila, Philippines. While the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) gathered foreign ministers from across the globe, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spent his time running an intense marathon of bilateral meetings. Sitting down with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Jaishankar signaled that India isn't taking its immediate neighborhood for granted.
If you've been following South Asian politics, you know the last couple of years haven't been smooth sailing. Between domestic political shifts in Dhaka, economic restructuring in Colombo, and Beijing constantly trying to expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean, New Delhi needed to make a strong point. Manila gave Jaishankar the exact stage he needed to reset conversation flows, align security priorities, and remind everyone who holds the geographical and economic center of South Asia.
What Happened in Manila
The formal agenda of the ARF focused on regional security, counter-terrorism, and maritime commerce across the Indo-Pacific. But Jaishankar’s most critical work was packed into his off-stage schedule.
On July 23, 2026, Jaishankar shared that he met directly with Sri Lanka's Vijitha Herath and Bangladesh's Khalilur Rahman. On paper, these sound like routine check-ins. In reality, they represent a conscious push by New Delhi to stabilize relations across its immediate eastern and southern frontiers.
Manila Bilateral Engagements Overview
- Sri Lanka (FM Vijitha Herath): Economic stabilization, maritime security, regional alignment
- Bangladesh (FM Khalilur Rahman): Trade continuity, border stability, political transition dynamics
- China (FM Wang Yi): Border disengagement follow-ups, direct flights, trade balance
- United States (Secretary Marco Rubio): Quad cooperation, critical minerals, supply chain security
- Russia (FM Sergey Lavrov): Seafarer safety, energy trade, regional conflicts
Herath had arrived in Manila intent on strengthening Sri Lanka’s ties with ASEAN member states and participating in events for the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. His sit-down with Jaishankar reinforced how tightly Colombo’s broader Asian ambitions remain connected to Indian goodwill. Meanwhile, the conversation with Rahman offered a much-needed venue to ensure political shifts in Dhaka don't derail essential trade corridors, power-sharing agreements, or border management protocols.
Why the Neighborhood First Policy Needed This Push
Diplomacy in South Asia moves fast, and sitting back is never an option. India's "Neighborhood First" policy sounds great in press releases, but maintaining it takes grueling, unglamorous work.
Sri Lanka spent the past few years rebuilding after a devastating debt crisis. India stepped in with over $4 billion in emergency lines of credit, fuel supplies, and medicine. Yet, Sri Lankan politics stays complex. Colombo constantly balances its economic need for Indian investment against lucrative infrastructure promises from Beijing. By engaging Herath early and directly in Manila, Jaishankar kept the focus on practical bilateral projects—port connectivity, renewable energy grids, and maritime monitoring.
Bangladesh presents a different puzzle. Political transitions in Dhaka over recent months created uncertainty around shared infrastructure projects and transit corridors linking India's northeastern states to the sea. India cannot afford a cold relationship with Dhaka. A stable Bangladesh means a peaceful eastern border. Rahman’s conversation with Jaishankar helped ensure that long-term strategic projects stay on track despite short-term political realignments.
Honestly, if India ignores these smaller neighbors for even a few months, other global players jump at the chance to fill the void. These brief hallway meetings in Manila weren't just polite exchanges—they were tactical maintenance on vital alliances.
Balancing the Big Powers on the Same Trip
What made Jaishankar's trip to the Philippines so striking was how quickly he pivoted from regional neighbors to global titans. In a span of 48 hours, he moved from discussing South Asian border trade to negotiating complex power dynamics with major global figures.
Dealing with China's Wang Yi
Jaishankar sat down with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for a detailed review of bilateral relations. Following up on understandings reached in late 2024, the two discussed gradual steps toward normal ties.
Jaishankar was blunt. He told Wang Yi that peace along the Line of Actual Control remains a strict prerequisite for standard relations. But he also acknowledged progress, pointing to recent steps like:
- Re-starting direct commercial flights between Indian and Chinese cities
- Updating visa processing frameworks for engineers and business travelers
- Resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage routes
- Re-opening local border trade points
It's a tough balancing act. India wants border stability and fair market access, but won't compromise on core national security.
Aligning with Washington and Moscow
In the same venue, Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to talk about critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and trade tariffs. They anchored their discussion in the Quad framework alongside Australia's Penny Wong and Japanese representatives, doubling down on a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Then came Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Jaishankar brought up an immediate safety concern: the protection of Indian seafarers following attacks on commercial ships like the MV Golden Leo in regional waters. They also covered energy, technology transfers, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This is strategic autonomy in action. Few foreign ministers can meet Wang Yi, Marco Rubio, Sergey Lavrov, and South Asian neighbors in a single day without getting cornered. Jaishankar pulls it off by sticking strictly to Indian national interests rather than joining rigid ideological blocs.
Hard Stances on Terrorism and Maritime Security
During the main ARF plenary session, Jaishankar didn't hold back. Addressing regional delegates, he reiterated India's firm stance that there must be zero tolerance for terrorism, adding directly that terror acts will have real consequences.
He emphasized choking off financial flows to terrorist networks, highlighting India’s role co-chairing the Experts' Working Group under the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) framework with Malaysia.
Maritime security took center stage too. With 2026 designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, Jaishankar pointed out that vital sea lanes can easily become sources of anxiety if international law gets ignored. He called for safe, uninterrupted commerce across international waterways and reiterated India’s support for a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea that respects UNCLOS 1982 guidelines.
These statements weren't just aimed at distant threats—they directly protect Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. As island and coastal nations, both depend heavily on open, peaceful shipping routes. When India polices the North Arabian Sea to the Western Pacific using its naval assets and fusion centers, it acts as a net security provider for its smaller neighbors.
Why South Asia Can't Ignore Delhi's Growth Engine
Diplomatic talk only works when backed by economic weight. Part of why Sri Lanka and Bangladesh prioritize meetings with India at global forums comes down to simple economics.
India's economic trajectory gives it tremendous leverage in South Asia. When New Delhi offers digital public infrastructure, green energy cross-border grids, or unified payments interfaces (UPI) integrations, it gives neighboring economies a direct boost.
Key Areas of Regional Economic Integration Discussed in Manila
- Power Grids: Cross-border electricity trading linking India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka
- Maritime Links: Port developments in Sri Lanka and direct trade routes through Bangladeshi waters
- Digital Infrastructure: Expansion of UPI and digital identity platforms across South Asia
- Supply Chain Diversification: De-risking trade corridors under the 2026 ASEAN-India framework
Sri Lanka needs Indian tourists, energy investments, and port logistics contracts. Bangladesh needs Indian power exports and seamless transit corridors to keep its garment and manufacturing sectors competitive. By sitting down in Manila, Jaishankar made sure economic cooperation stayed ahead of political noise.
Practical Takeaways from Manila's Corridor Diplomacy
What does all this mean going forward? Watching how India managed its Manila itinerary reveals a clear strategy for regional stability.
- Watch implementation, not announcements: The success of the meetings with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh won't be measured by photo ops. Keep an eye on border clearance speeds, joint power grid projects, and port concession agreements over the coming months.
- Expect pragmatic trade setups: Even when political rhetoric gets heated in regional capitals, economic realities usually win. India is making it easier for neighbors to trade in local currencies to bypass dollar shortages.
- Keep an eye on maritime security: With 2026 marking the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, expect more joint naval exercises, search-and-rescue drills, and coast guard coordination across the Bay of Bengal.
- Understand India's multi-alignment strategy: New Delhi will keep talking to Washington, Moscow, and Beijing at the same time. India's priority isn't joining a cold war bloc; it's protecting its immediate neighborhood and economic growth.
Jaishankar’s busy schedule in Manila proved that while headline speeches grab attention, quiet corridor diplomacy is what actually keeps South Asia steady.
