New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today stated that India views its defence cooperation with the ASEAN countries as a contribution to regional peace, stability, and capacity building. He said the country’s approach has always been very clear, which is promoting an open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
“Our strategic engagement with ASEAN rests on a shared belief that the Indo-Pacific should remain open, inclusive & free from coercion,” he said.
Singh, during his address at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, said that ASEAN has provided India with a structured platform that has consolidated the diplomatic and economic engagements.
He said India’s emphasis on rule of law and freedom of navigation, and over-flight in the Indo-Pacific is not against any country, but to safeguard interests of all regional stakeholders. The Defence Minister emphasized that the ADMM-Plus is an integral part of India’s Act East policy, and its broader Indo-Pacific vision.
Singh has also said the future security will not solely depend on military capabilities, but on the management of shared resources, security of digital and physical infrastructure, and collective response to humanitarian crises.
The Defence Minister has said that the ADMM-Plus can serve as the bridge that connects strategic dialogue to practical outcomes, taking the region towards peace and shared prosperity.
Singh also highlighted that India’s Indo-Pacific security vision connects defence cooperation with economic development, technology sharing, and human resource advancement. He added that the strong connection between security, growth, and sustainability reflects the true spirit of the partnership between India and ASEAN.
Singh said that the country is committed to making constructive contributions under “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions (MAHASAGAR) via mediums such as dialogue, partnership, and practical cooperation.”
Highlighting that India has been a constructive participant since the beginning of ADMM-Plus, Singh mentioned the country had the privilege of co-chairing three Expert Working Groups, including Humanitarian Mine Action with Vietnam from 2014 to 2017, on Military Medicine with Myanmar from 2017 to 2020, on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief with Indonesia from 2020 to 2024 and currently, on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024-2027 cycle.
He also noted that the nation has always advocated for integrating climate resilience into defence cooperation, and pointed out that the link between environmental stress, resource scarcity, and conflict makes this an essential component of the regional security agenda.
