Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for deeper defence and security cooperation between India and ASEAN member states, stressing the need to uphold national sovereignty, respect international law and strengthen regional trust to ensure peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
Addressing the inaugural ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi, Singh said India envisioned an Indo-Pacific where all countries, irrespective of their size, could make independent choices, protect their interests and pursue development in peace.
He underscored the importance of keeping communication channels open, resolving differences peacefully and addressing emerging as well as traditional security challenges through collective action.
“India seeks an Indo-Pacific where all countries—large and small—make their own choices, protect their interests and pursue development in peace,” the Defence Minister said.
Singh noted that India and ASEAN shared common interests in regional peace, stability, prosperity and an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific. He highlighted India’s Act East Policy, alongside the visions of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), as key pillars of New Delhi’s regional engagement.
He added that ASEAN-led mechanisms remained central to India’s Indo-Pacific vision and stressed that regional cooperation should complement existing frameworks rather than create competing blocs.
Addressing Emerging Regional Security Challenges:
The Defence Minister pointed to growing strategic competition and uncertainty in the region, including tensions at sea and threats posed by terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, human trafficking, illegal fishing, climate-related disasters and disruptions to critical supply chains.
Emphasising that no country could tackle these challenges independently, Singh called for a regional order based on cooperation, mutual respect and dialogue, without compelling countries to choose sides.
“India believes that security is strengthened when countries build capacity together, respect international law and maintain trust through dialogue,” he said.
Highlighting the longstanding historical, cultural and commercial connections between India and Southeast Asia, Singh reiterated that the Act East Policy reflected India’s long-term commitment to engaging with the region as an equal partner.
Maritime Co-operation at the Heart of Regional Security:
With the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian waters forming an interconnected maritime space vital to global trade, energy supplies and the movement of people and essential goods, Singh emphasised that maritime security was a shared responsibility.
He called for stronger maritime domain awareness, improved interoperability between regional forces and greater cooperation in underwater surveillance to maintain a stable, rules-based maritime order.
Noting that 2026 had been designated the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, the Defence Minister urged both sides to translate their shared priorities into concrete initiatives.
He advocated improved maritime information-sharing mechanisms, closer coordination between navies and coast guards, joint responses to emergencies and coordinated efforts to combat piracy, trafficking and illegal fishing in accordance with international law.
AI, Drones and Defence Technology:
Highlighting the growing importance of emerging technologies in modern warfare, Singh said artificial intelligence, drones, cyber capabilities and space-based systems were transforming the defence landscape.
Recent conflicts, he observed, had demonstrated how relatively inexpensive drones could challenge sophisticated and costly defence systems, underscoring the need for practical, affordable and adaptable technological solutions.
The Defence Minister called for greater collaboration among start-ups, universities, research institutions and smaller companies, noting that innovation should not remain confined to major defence organisations.
He cited India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and Technology Development Fund (TDF) as mechanisms supporting collaboration with innovators to address defence requirements.
Singh proposed joint research projects, shared testing facilities, exchanges among young researchers and innovation challenges focused on clearly defined priorities, including counter-drone technologies, cyber defence, maritime surveillance and disaster response.
He stressed that such partnerships must protect sensitive information, respect intellectual property rights and ensure responsible technology-sharing, while strengthening mutual trust.
India Offers Expanded Defence Industrial Partnerships:
Outlining opportunities for defence industrial cooperation, Singh said India was ready to explore partnerships with ASEAN countries in areas such as patrol vessels, radars, air-defence systems, helicopters, drones and other emerging technologies, in line with individual countries’ requirements.
He emphasised that the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative was aimed at strengthening India’s domestic defence capabilities, not isolating the country from international partners.
Self-reliance, he said, could create opportunities for trusted partners to jointly design, manufacture, maintain and upgrade defence equipment.
The Defence Minister identified co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and long-term technical support as key areas for sustainable cooperation.
He also called for partnerships based on clearly defined requirements, dependable after-sales support, appropriate technology safeguards and fair sharing of responsibilities and benefits, with opportunities for local industries and skilled workers.
The objective, he stressed, should be to establish enduring strategic partnerships rather than pursue one-time commercial transactions.
Disaster Response and Humanitarian Assistance:
Singh called for making Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) a regular component of India-ASEAN defence dialogue, given the growing risks posed by cyclones, floods, rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
Such disasters can damage ports, disrupt trade and threaten lives and livelihoods across the region, he noted.
He urged both sides to share best practices, strengthen coordination mechanisms and improve preparedness before emergencies occur.
Think Tanks Urged to Deliver Practical Outcomes:
Emphasising the role of strategic research institutions in shaping regional security policies, Singh said governments required not only sound analysis but also actionable recommendations.
He proposed developing a joint India-ASEAN research agenda covering maritime security, cyber threats, emerging technologies, disaster response and defence industrial cooperation.
Other suggested initiatives included regular exchanges among researchers and young scholars through fellowships and visiting programmes, joint publications, and pilot projects such as tabletop exercises on maritime disaster response, studies on counter-drone technologies and research into secure maritime information-sharing systems.
Singh also called for promoting Track 1.5 and Track 2 dialogues to facilitate continued engagement among researchers, practitioners and policymakers between formal meetings.
He suggested that the forum prepare a concise set of recommendations, identify institutions responsible for implementing them and review progress at a future meeting.
Forum Marks New Milestone in India-ASEAN Engagement:
In his welcome address, MP-IDSA Director General Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy thanked the Defence Minister for his vision and support in strengthening India’s defence and security partnerships with ASEAN.
Welcoming participants from India and all 11 ASEAN member states, Chinoy described the inaugural forum as an important institutional milestone in the evolution of ASEAN-India defence engagement.
He expressed confidence that the platform would establish sustained dialogue between India’s and ASEAN’s strategic communities and help identify practical avenues for deeper cooperation.
Held on October 14 and 15, 2026, the two-day forum aims to strengthen strategic dialogue, encourage joint analysis and identify practical opportunities for defence and security collaboration.
The initiative follows the announcement made 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’s agenda includes strategic stability, regional geopolitics, maritime security, grey-zone challenges, HADR, maritime domain awareness, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, unmanned systems, defence industry collaboration and resilient supply chains.
