New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for greater cooperation between India and ASEAN to promote peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. He stressed the importance of mutual trust, respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law and dialogue to address emerging security challenges.
Addressing the first ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi, the Defence Minister said India envisioned an Indo-Pacific where all countries, irrespective of their size, could make their own choices, protect their interests and pursue development peacefully.
He said India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) shared a common interest in maintaining an open, inclusive and stable Indo-Pacific. India’s Act East Policy and its visions of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) reflected its commitment to regional cooperation and a multipolar world order.
Rajnath Singh noted that the region was witnessing rapid strategic changes, accompanied by challenges such as terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, climate-related disasters and risks to critical supply chains. He emphasised that no country could address these challenges alone.
The minister called for resolving differences through peaceful dialogue before they escalated into disputes. He also stressed the need for a regional order in which countries could cooperate without being compelled to choose sides.
Highlighting the longstanding historical, cultural and economic ties between India and Southeast Asia, he said India’s Act East Policy represented a long-term commitment to working with regional partners as equals. He added that India’s approach and ASEAN’s outlook on the Indo-Pacific could complement each other, with cooperation between regional forums remaining a priority.
Focus on Maritime Security and Defence Technology
Rajnath Singh underlined the importance of maritime security, stating that the Indian Ocean and the waters of Southeast Asia formed a connected maritime space vital for trade, energy, people and essential goods.
He called for strengthening maritime domain awareness, interoperability and underwater awareness to maintain a stable, rules-based maritime order.
With 2026 designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, the minister urged both sides to enhance maritime information-sharing, strengthen coordination between their navies and coast guards, and develop joint capabilities to respond to emergencies. He also called for coordinated efforts against piracy, trafficking and illegal fishing in accordance with international law.
On defence technology, Rajnath Singh highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence, drones, cyber capabilities and space-based systems. He noted that recent conflicts had demonstrated how relatively low-cost drones could challenge expensive defence systems, underscoring the need for affordable, adaptable and effective solutions.
The minister encouraged greater participation by start-ups, universities, research institutions and smaller companies in defence innovation. He cited India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and the Technology Development Fund (TDF) as platforms supporting collaboration with innovators.
He called for joint research projects, shared testing facilities, exchanges among young researchers and innovation challenges in areas such as counter-drone systems, cyber defence, maritime surveillance and disaster response. He also emphasised the need to protect sensitive information and intellectual property while ensuring responsible technology-sharing.
India Seeks Stronger Defence Industrial Cooperation with ASEAN
The Defence Minister said India was ready to explore defence industrial cooperation with ASEAN countries in areas including patrol vessels, radars, air-defence systems, helicopters, drones and other technologies, based on the requirements and priorities of individual countries.
He said the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed to strengthen domestic capabilities without isolating India from international partnerships. It could create opportunities for trusted partners to jointly design, manufacture, maintain and upgrade defence equipment.
Rajnath Singh highlighted the potential of co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and long-term technical support to develop local skills, strengthen industries and improve supply-chain reliability.
He also called for greater cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), noting that cyclones, floods, rising sea levels and extreme weather events could threaten lives and livelihoods while disrupting ports and trade. He urged countries to share best practices and strengthen coordination before disasters occur.
Think Tanks to Promote Practical Cooperation
Emphasising the role of think tanks in shaping policy, Rajnath Singh called for translating discussions and research into practical outcomes.
He proposed a joint India-ASEAN research agenda on maritime security, cyber threats, emerging technologies, disaster response and defence industry cooperation. Other suggestions included fellowships, researcher exchanges, joint publications, pilot projects and continued Track 1.5 and Track 2 dialogues involving researchers, practitioners and policymakers.
He also called for preparing recommendations, identifying institutions to implement them and reviewing progress at a future meeting.
In his welcome address, MP-IDSA Director General Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy described the forum as an important milestone in India-ASEAN defence engagement. He welcomed participants from India and all 11 ASEAN member states and expressed confidence that the initiative would institutionalise dialogue between the two sides’ strategic communities and identify practical avenues for deeper cooperation.
The two-day forum, being held on October 14 and 15, aims to strengthen strategic dialogue, promote joint analysis and expand defence and security cooperation between India and ASEAN.
The initiative follows an announcement by Rajnath Singh at the second ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on October 31, 2025, on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).
The forum is deliberating on regional geopolitics, maritime security, grey-zone challenges, disaster response, defence technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, unmanned systems, defence industry cooperation and resilient supply chains.
[DD News]