नवीनतम
Indo-Pacific should remain free from any form of coercion: Rajnath
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Indo-Pacific should remain open, inclusive, and free from any form of coercion, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday, amid increasing global concerns over China's military muscle-flexing in the region.
The defence minister also said that India is for strengthening the ASEAN-led inclusive regional security architecture.
He made the remarks at the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) conclave in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
ADMM-Plus is a platform comprising 11-nation ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and its eight dialogue partners -- India, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.
The Defence Minister yesterday took part in the 2nd ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Singh highlighted that ASEAN-India relationship remains a strong pillar of stability in today’s uncertain world, where many old beliefs and expectations are changing. Mr Singh said that both ASEAN and India have shown rapid economic growth.
He underlined that maritime security is a central focus of India-ASEAN engagement. He commended Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states for agreeing to the second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise. The Defence Minister emphasized that securing maritime routes is the country’s top priority, saying that more than half of India’s trade passes through the South China Sea and the Malacca Strait.
Mr Singh also stressed the need for early completion of the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement to further strengthen trade relations with ASEAN. Proposing a second edition of the ASEAN-India Initiative for Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations, Mr Singh said that the United Nations has set an ambitious goal to increase women’s participation in peacekeeping missions.
He also proposed to establish a dedicated forum that will encourage institutional engagement between defence think tanks from both regions, saying that it will further strengthen strategic cooperation between India and ASEAN in the defence and security domain.
Mr Singh said that ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise and International Fleet Review 2026 will be held in India. He said these events will further strengthen naval cooperation, enhance interoperability, and help ensure maritime safety, security, and freedom of navigation.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today met his South Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu-back on the sidelines of 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In a social media post, Mr Singh informed that he also met New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins and extended her the invitation to visit India. Mr Singh added that her visit will reaffirm the shared vision of India and New Zealand to build a forward-looking partnership in defence. Mr Singh also met Vietnam’s Defence Minister Phan Van Giang.
