Rajnath Singh Calls for Inclusive Indo-Pacific at First ASEAN–India Defence Think Tank Forum
New Delhi, October 14, 2026: India has called for an open, peaceful and rules-based Indo-Pacific where all countries can protect their interests, exercise sovereign choices and pursue development without external pressure. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered the message at the inaugural ASEAN–India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Emphasising mutual trust, respect for sovereignty, international law and sustained dialogue, Singh said India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must strengthen cooperation to address shared security challenges without forcing regional countries to choose sides.
Maritime Security and Regional Stability
Highlighting India’s Act East Policy and its SAGAR and MAHASAGAR visions, Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to deeper engagement with Southeast Asian partners.
He identified maritime security, terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, climate-related disasters and supply-chain disruptions as challenges requiring coordinated regional responses.
With 2026 designated as the ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation, he called for stronger maritime information sharing, improved coordination between navies and coast guards, enhanced underwater awareness and joint emergency-response capabilities.
Defence Technology and Industrial Partnerships
Singh highlighted artificial intelligence, drones, cybersecurity and space-based systems as increasingly important areas of defence cooperation. He called for affordable, adaptable technologies, noting that relatively inexpensive drones can challenge sophisticated defence platforms.
India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Technology Development Fund (TDF) initiatives could provide opportunities for collaboration among start-ups, universities, research institutions and defence industries.
He also offered to explore partnerships with ASEAN countries in patrol vessels, radar systems, air-defence equipment, helicopters, drones and other defence technologies.
Emphasising the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Singh said self-reliance does not mean isolation. Joint research, co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), training and technical support can strengthen local industries, develop skills and improve supply-chain resilience.
Disaster Preparedness and Research Cooperation
The Defence Minister called for making Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) a regular feature of defence dialogue, particularly as extreme weather events threaten lives, ports and regional trade.
He urged think tanks to develop a joint India–ASEAN research agenda covering maritime security, cyber threats, emerging technologies, disaster response and defence-industrial cooperation.
Proposals included researcher exchanges, joint publications, pilot projects on counter-drone systems and maritime disaster response, and continued policy dialogue between formal meetings.
In his welcome address, MP-IDSA Director General Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy described the forum as an important milestone in ASEAN–India defence engagement and expressed confidence that it would generate practical avenues for stronger regional cooperation.
Two-Day Forum Focuses on Practical Outcomes
Held on October 14–15, 2026, the inaugural forum brings together participants from India and all 11 ASEAN member states. It follows an announcement by Singh at the second ASEAN–India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on October 31, 2025.
Discussions cover regional geopolitics, maritime security, grey-zone challenges, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, unmanned systems, disaster relief and resilient supply chains.
The initiative aims to translate strategic dialogue into practical cooperation and strengthen the India–ASEAN partnership amid evolving Indo-Pacific security challenges.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
