India and ASEAN are increasingly serving as strategic hedges for each other amidst global uncertainties. This relationship extends beyond diplomacy and business, with ordinary Indians seeking opportunities and security in ASEAN cities for education, investment, and employment. Geopolitically, India engages Southeast Asia to balance China's influence and mitigate Western shocks, while companies diversify supply chains and explore new markets. This mutual hedging is driven by factors like US visa uncertainties and trade protectionism, with ASEAN reciprocating, though primarily in geopolitical terms.