Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Wednesday, called for urgent and resolute global efforts to counter transnational and cross-border terrorism, terming them as the gravest threat to regional and global security.

He pointed out that the global security environment has transformed fundamentally over the last few decades, with terrorist groups creating inter-linkages across continents backed by new-age technologies to propagate ideologies, transfer money and recruit supporters.

Rajnath was speaking at the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The ADMM Plus is an annual meeting of the defence ministers of ten ASEAN countries and its eight dialogue partner countries, viz., India, the US, Russia, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. The year 2022 also marks the 30th anniversary of India-ASEAN relations.

The defence minister drew the attention of the forum to the other security concerns that have emerged in the aftermath of the global Covid-19 pandemic, including challenges to energy and food security. He stated that as a responsible member of the international community, India has worked with its partners, in extending humanitarian aid, medicines, vaccines and food grains on a large scale.

Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s commitment to nurturing practical, forward-looking and result-oriented cooperation between India and ADMM Plus countries for enhancing the maritime security in the region and the safety of the global commons.

He asserted that India advocated a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and called for peaceful resolution of disputes while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. In this context, he stated that the ongoing ASEAN-China negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea should be fully consistent with international law, in particular United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations that were not a party to these discussions.

He also called upon all the member states to work together with positive intent, towards a stable, safer and more secure world for future generations.