Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday stated that India views its defence cooperation with the ASEAN countries as a contribution to regional peace, stability, and capacity-building.
He said that the country’s approach has always been very clear — to promote 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.
In his address to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, Singh said that ASEAN has provided a structured platform for India, enhancing diplomatic and economic engagements.
He said that India’s emphasis on the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and overflight in the Indo-Pacific is not directed against any country, but aimed at safeguarding the interests of all regional stakeholders.
The Defence Minister emphasised that the ADMM-Plus is an integral part of India’s Act East policy and its broader Indo-Pacific vision.
Singh also said that the future security will not depend solely on military capabilities, but on the management of shared resources, the security of digital and physical infrastructure, and a collective response to humanitarian crises.
The Defence Minister said that the ADMM-Plus can serve as a bridge that connects strategic dialogue with 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)” through mediums such as dialogue, partnership, and practical cooperation.
Highlighting that India has been a constructive participant since the inception of the ADMM-Plus, Singh mentioned that the country has had the privilege of co-chairing four Expert Working Groups — on Humanitarian Mine Action with Vietnam (2014–2017), on Military Medicine with Myanmar (2017–2020), on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief with Indonesia (2020–2024), and currently, on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024–2027 cycle.
He also noted that the nation has always advocated 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.