Indian Defense Minister Calls for Strengthening Defense Cooperation with ASEAN Countries

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh called yesterday for strengthening defense cooperation between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), emphasizing that regional security must be based on respect for the sovereignty of states and international law. Speaking at the inaugural India-ASEAN Defense Think Tanks Forum in New Delhi, Singh said India seeks to establish an Indo-Pacific region where all countries, large or small, can make their own choices, protect their interests, and pursue development in peace. He stressed that India and ASEAN share clear common interests in achieving peace, stability, and prosperity, and in consolidating freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region. Singh explained that India’s “Act East” policy, its vision of “security and growth for all in the region,” and the principle of “progressive and comprehensive growth of security and prosperity across the region” support open, multipolar cooperation, noting that aligning these policies with ASEAN-led mechanisms is a cornerstone of India’s regional vision. He called for enhanced cooperation to address growing challenges, including “terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, climate-related disasters, and risks to critical supply chains.” Singh underscored the need to discuss differences at an early stage and through peaceful means before they escalate into conflicts, advocating for a regional system in which countries cooperate without being forced to align with any particular side. He pointed out that enhancing maritime domain awareness, interoperability, and cooperation in undersea operations is essential to ensuring a stable, rules-based maritime order. The Indian Defense Minister added that “self-reliance does not mean operating in isolation; rather, it can create opportunities for trusted partners to jointly design, build, maintain, and develop equipment.” He called for safeguarding the security and integrity of territorial waters, noting that the Indian Ocean and the waters of Southeast Asia form a contiguous maritime space through which trade, energy resources, peoples, and essential goods move, making the preservation of its security and integrity a shared responsibility.