The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the 21st century's geopolitical fulcrum. The Indo-Pacific, encompassing South, Southeast, and East Asia, has ascended as a central geopolitical space. India's strategic priorities in this region have traditionally focused on maritime security, economic connectivity, and multilateral cooperation. However, these traditional instruments coexist with soft power tools, including shared cultural and religious heritages. As the birthplace of Buddhism, India is uniquely positioned to leverage Buddhist resurgence as a strategic asset for deepening ties with a region where Buddhism—historically and culturally—permeates societies from Southeast Asia to East Asia and beyond. This article explores the resurgence of Buddhism as a strategic soft-power asset enhancing India's influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Situated at the crossroads of history, culture, and geopolitics, Buddhism's historical diffusion across Asia offers India a civilizational bridge that complements its economic and security engagements. By analysing cultural diplomacy, heritage linkages, and contemporary initiatives, the paper argues that India's Buddhist heritage can deepen people-to-people ties, bolster normative appeal, and support broader strategic objectives in a region marked by rising competition and complex interdependencies.
Kumar et al. (Thu,) studied this question.