New Delhi, Oct 14 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India seeks an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific where all countries, irrespective of their size, can make independent choices, protect their interests and pursue development peacefully.
Addressing the maiden ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) here, Singh called for strengthening mutual trust, respecting sovereignty, adhering to international law and maintaining dialogue to address emerging and conventional security challenges.
He said India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) share a common interest in ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing strategic competition and uncertainty.
Singh noted that challenges such as terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, human trafficking, illegal fishing, climate-related disasters and disruptions to critical supply chains require collective efforts, as no country can address them alone.
Emphasising the importance of peaceful resolution of differences, the defence minister said countries should discuss disagreements at an early stage before they escalate into disputes.
“India believes that security is strengthened when countries build capacity together, respect international law and maintain trust through dialogue,” he said.
Singh said India’s Act East policy, along with its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions, supports an open, inclusive and multipolar regional order.
He said India’s Indo-Pacific approach complements ASEAN’s outlook and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation rather than create competition between regional forums.
Highlighting maritime security as a shared priority, Singh said the Indian Ocean and the waters of Southeast Asia form a connected maritime space vital for trade, energy supplies and the movement of people and essential goods.
He called for greater maritime domain awareness, improved interoperability and closer cooperation among navies and coast guards to maintain a stable, rules-based maritime order.
Designating 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation provides an opportunity to translate shared commitments into practical outcomes, he said, calling for improved maritime information-sharing and coordinated responses to emergencies.
The minister also stressed the need for greater cooperation in defence technologies, including artificial intelligence, drones, cyber capabilities and space-based systems.
Referring to the changing nature of warfare, Singh said relatively inexpensive drones could challenge costly defence systems, underlining the need for practical, affordable and adaptable solutions.
He called for closer collaboration among start-ups, universities, research institutions and companies, citing India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Technology Development Fund (TDF) initiatives as platforms to encourage innovation in defence.
Joint research, shared testing facilities and exchanges among young researchers could help develop solutions in areas such as counter-drone systems, cyber defence, maritime surveillance and disaster response, he said.
Singh said such cooperation should protect sensitive information, respect intellectual property rights and ensure responsible technology-sharing.
On defence industrial cooperation, he said India was ready to explore partnerships with ASEAN countries in areas including patrol vessels, radars, air-defence systems, helicopters, drones and other technologies, based on individual countries’ requirements.
He said the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative aims to strengthen domestic capabilities but does not imply working in isolation.
Self-reliance can create opportunities for trusted partners to jointly design, manufacture, maintain and upgrade defence equipment, he said, stressing the importance of co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and long-term technical support.
Singh also called for incorporating humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) into regular defence dialogue, noting that cyclones, floods, rising sea levels and extreme weather events can damage infrastructure, disrupt trade and threaten livelihoods.
On the role of think tanks, he said governments require sound analysis as well as practical ideas that can be translated into action.
He proposed a joint India-ASEAN research agenda covering maritime security, cyber threats, emerging technologies, disaster response and defence industrial cooperation.
Other suggested outcomes included exchanges among researchers, pilot projects on maritime disaster response and counter-drone solutions, and regular dialogue among researchers, practitioners and policymakers.
Singh also called for preparing a set of recommendations, identifying institutions responsible for implementing them and reviewing progress at a future meeting.
In his welcome address, MP-IDSA Director General Sujan R Chinoy said the forum marked an important milestone in India-ASEAN defence engagement.
Welcoming participants from India and all 11 ASEAN member states, Chinoy expressed confidence that the initiative would institutionalise sustained dialogue between their strategic communities and identify practical avenues for deeper defence and security cooperation.
The two-day forum, being held on October 14 and 15, aims to strengthen strategic dialogue, promote joint analysis and explore ways to enhance defence and security cooperation between India and ASEAN.
The initiative follows Singh’s announcement 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 discussions will cover regional geopolitics, maritime security, grey-zone challenges, disaster relief, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, unmanned systems, defence industry collaboration and resilient supply chains.—(NVI)
