Rajnath Singh Calls for Stronger India-ASEAN Defence Cooperation

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 14th Oct: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for stronger India-ASEAN defence cooperation, emphasising respect for national sovereignty, adherence to international law and open dialogue to maintain 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 envisions a region where all countries, regardless of size, can make independent choices, protect their interests and pursue development peacefully.

India and ASEAN Share a Common Indo-Pacific Vision
Singh said India and ASEAN share a common interest in peace, stability, prosperity and an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific. He highlighted India’s Act East Policy and its SAGAR and MAHASAGAR visions, which support regional cooperation through ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Pointing to growing strategic competition and threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, climate-related disasters and supply-chain disruptions, he stressed that no country can tackle these challenges alone.

He called for differences to be addressed early and peacefully, warning against an environment in which countries are pressured to choose sides. India and ASEAN, he said, should strengthen cooperation rather than create competition between regional forums.

Maritime Cooperation Takes Centre Stage
With 2026 designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, Singh called for practical measures to improve maritime information-sharing, coordination between navies and coast guards, and joint responses to emergencies.

He underlined that the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian waters form a connected maritime space essential for trade, energy and the movement of people and goods. Stronger maritime domain awareness, interoperability and underwater cooperation, he said, are critical to maintaining a stable, rules-based maritime order.

Focus on Defence Technology and Industry
The Defence Minister identified artificial intelligence, drones, cyber capabilities and space-based systems as increasingly important areas of defence cooperation. He cited the changing nature of warfare, where relatively inexpensive drones can challenge costly defence systems, and called for affordable, adaptable solutions.

He encouraged collaboration among start-ups, universities, research institutions and smaller companies, citing India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Technology Development Fund (TDF) initiatives as platforms for defence innovation.

India is also ready to explore industrial cooperation with ASEAN partners in areas such as patrol vessels, radars, air-defence systems, helicopters and drones, according to individual countries’ needs.

Singh clarified that self-reliance does not mean isolation. Joint research, co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and long-term technical support can strengthen local capabilities, support industries and improve supply-chain reliability.

Disaster Response and Think Tank Dialogue
Singh called for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief to become a regular component of defence dialogue, noting that cyclones, floods, rising sea levels and extreme weather can threaten lives, damage ports and disrupt trade.

He also urged think tanks to translate research into practical outcomes through a joint India-ASEAN research agenda, exchanges among young scholars, pilot projects on maritime disaster response and counter-drone systems, and sustained Track 1.5 and Track 2 dialogues.

The two-day forum, being held on October 14 and 15, brings together participants from India and all 11 ASEAN member states. It aims to strengthen strategic dialogue and identify practical avenues for deeper defence and security cooperation across maritime security, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, disaster response and defence industry partnerships.