Defence Minister meets ASEAN counterparts in Kuala Lumpur

New Delhi, Nov 1: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Defence Ministers of ASEAN member countries during the second India–ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During the interaction, ASEAN Ministers lauded India’s role as a responsible superpower and a key contributor to peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

They expressed interest in deepening defence cooperation with New Delhi, particularly in areas of defence technology, cyber security, and maritime collaboration. In his address, Rajnath Singh said the meeting marked a strategic opportunity to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and ASEAN, especially through the defence and security components of the ASEAN–India Plan of Action (2026–2030). He also announced two new initiatives — the ASEAN–India Initiative on Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations and the ASEAN–India Defence Think-Tank Interaction.

The Malaysian Defence Minister, chairing the meeting, described India as a “superpower” and commended its growing self-reliant defence industry and innovation ecosystem. He said ASEAN nations could benefit from closer cooperation with India in areas such as cyber and digital defence.

The Philippines Defence Minister praised India’s commitment to international law and multilateralism, noting its adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a model for regional conduct. He welcomed India’s participation in the upcoming India–ASEAN Maritime Exercise and a planned joint cooperative activity in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. The Cambodian Defence Minister thanked India for its contributions to training in UN Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and Military Medicine.

The Singapore Defence Minister echoed these sentiments, stressing ASEAN’s confidence in India’s role in regional peace and proposing greater joint activities, policy dialogues, and youth-level exchanges to strengthen future collaboration. The Thai Defence Minister supported the call for regional self-reliance in defence production and technology, underscoring India’s potential as a key partner in building such capacity. Concluding the meeting, ASEAN Defence Ministers welcomed India’s initiatives and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the ASEAN–India strategic partnership, particularly in defence, maritime, and technological domains.