India and ASEAN a clear interest in a peaceful, stable, and open Indo-Pacific region

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasized that India and ASEAN share a clear interest in a peaceful, stable, and open Indo-Pacific region. Addressing the ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum in New Delhi this morning, Mr Singh said that ASEAN is central to India’s Indo-Pacific vision and that India’s Act East Policy is a long-term commitment to working with Southeast Asia as an equal partner.

Outlining practical steps for the forum, Mr Singh proposed developing a joint India-ASEAN research agenda focused on maritime security, disaster response, cyber threats, and emerging technologies

Mr. Singh highlighted that the Indian Ocean and the waters of Southeast Asia constitute a single connected maritime space, making its safety a shared responsibility. Pointing to the designation of 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, he called for strengthening maritime domain awareness, improving information sharing, and building collective capabilities to respond to emergencies, piracy, and illegal fishing. (UPDATED ON 14TH OCTOBER 2026)