Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed New Delhi’s deep commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, declaring that ASEAN remains a central pillar of India’s Act East Policy. Speaking at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, Singh highlighted the growing strategic partnership between India and ASEAN nations, emphasizing cooperation in defence, technology, and regional stability.
️ “ASEAN Is an Essential Part of India’s Vision for the Indo-Pacific”
Rajnath Singh stated:
“India has been an active participant in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus since its inception. For India, this platform has been an integral part of our Act East Policy and our Indo-Pacific vision. The ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership, elevated in 2022, is proof of our deepening cooperation and shared priorities.”
He noted that India-ASEAN relations have evolved beyond dialogue to encompass practical defence collaboration, particularly in maritime security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and capacity-building.
The Act East Policy: Expanding India’s Engagement
Launched in November 2014, India’s Act East Policy upgraded the earlier Look East Policy.
It aims to:
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Strengthen economic, cultural, and strategic ties with Southeast Asia.
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Enhance connectivity, trade, and defence partnerships at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
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Promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, based on mutual respect and shared growth.
This policy anchors India’s diplomatic outreach across the Asia-Pacific and reinforces its role as a stabilizing power in the region.
⚓ ADMM-Plus: From Dialogue to Action
Over the past decade and a half, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus has become a cornerstone of regional security cooperation.
“ADMM-Plus has evolved from a dialogue mechanism into a platform for practical defence cooperation,” Singh said. “India supports collaboration not just in defence but also in economic development, technology sharing, and human resource cooperation across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.”
⚖️ Commitment to a Rules-Based Indo-Pacific
The Defence Minister reiterated India’s stand for a rules-based, inclusive Indo-Pacific, governed by international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Our vision is not directed against any country,” he clarified. “It is about safeguarding the collective interests and prosperity of all regional stakeholders.”
Strengthening Regional Partnerships
Rajnath Singh concluded by emphasizing that India views defence cooperation with ASEAN countries as key to regional peace and stability.
The collaboration, he said, continues to expand into maritime intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, infrastructure development, and other critical sectors shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.
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