New Delhi, Oct 14: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India seeks an Indo-Pacific region where all countries, irrespective of their size, can make independent choices, protect their interests and pursue development in peace, calling for greater trust, respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law and sustained dialogue to address regional security challenges.
Addressing the inaugural Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi, Singh emphasised that India and ASEAN share a common interest in maintaining peace, stability, prosperity and an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
He said growing strategic competition, uncertainty at sea and emerging threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, climate-related disasters and risks to vital supply chains require collective responses, as no country can address these challenges alone.
“India seeks an Indo-Pacific where all countries — large and small — make their own choices, protect their interests and pursue development in peace,” Singh said, underlining the need to resolve differences peacefully before they escalate into disputes.
He stressed that regional cooperation should enable countries to work together without being forced to choose sides, adding that security is strengthened when nations build capacity collectively, respect international law and maintain trust through dialogue.
Highlighting the strategic importance of maritime security, Singh said the Indian Ocean and the waters of Southeast Asia constitute an interconnected maritime space essential for trade, energy, people and the movement of essential goods.
He identified maritime domain awareness, interoperability and underwater cooperation as key priorities for ensuring a stable, rules-based maritime order.
With 2026 designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, the Defence Minister called for translating shared interests into practical initiatives, including improved maritime information sharing, stronger cooperation between navies and coast guards, and enhanced joint responses to emergencies.
He also called for coordinated efforts against piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing and other maritime threats in accordance with international law.
Singh said India’s Act East Policy, along with its SAGAR vision — Security and Growth for All in the Region — and MAHASAGAR vision — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — supports an open and multipolar regional order. He noted that ASEAN-led mechanisms remain central to India’s Indo-Pacific approach.
Recalling the longstanding historical, cultural and commercial ties between India and Southeast Asia, he said India’s engagement with the region was a long-term commitment based on equality and partnership.
“India’s approach and ASEAN’s outlook on the Indo-Pacific can complement each other. We should strengthen cooperation, not create competition between regional forums,” he said.
The Defence Minister identified emerging technologies as another important area for deeper India-ASEAN cooperation, pointing to the growing role of artificial intelligence, drones, cyber capabilities and space-based systems in modern warfare.
Referring to recent conflicts, he observed that relatively low-cost drones can challenge expensive defence systems, highlighting the need for practical, affordable and adaptable technological solutions.
Singh said innovation should extend beyond large organisations to include start-ups, universities, research institutions and smaller companies. He cited India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and Technology Development Fund (TDF) as mechanisms that encourage collaboration with innovators to meet defence requirements.
He called for joint research projects, shared testing opportunities, exchanges among young researchers and innovation challenges focused on areas such as counter-drone systems, cyber defence, maritime surveillance and disaster response.
He also stressed the importance of protecting sensitive information, respecting intellectual property rights and ensuring responsible technology sharing.
On defence industrial cooperation, Singh said India was ready to explore partnerships with ASEAN countries in areas including patrol vessels, radars, air-defence systems, helicopters, drones and other technologies, according to individual countries’ requirements and priorities.
He said the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative aims to strengthen domestic capabilities but does not imply working in isolation. Instead, self-reliance can create opportunities for trusted partners to jointly design, manufacture, maintain and upgrade defence equipment.
The Defence Minister highlighted co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and long-term technical support as important elements of sustainable defence partnerships.
He said such arrangements could build local skills, support industries and improve supply-chain reliability, stressing the need for clear requirements, dependable after-sales support, appropriate technology safeguards and fair sharing of responsibilities and benefits.
“Our goal should be lasting partnerships, not one-time transactions,” he said.
Singh also called for making Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) a regular component of defence dialogue between India and ASEAN.
