Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) called for deeper defence and technological cooperation between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), pitching for joint research, co-production of military equipment and enhanced maritime security to address emerging regional challenges.
Addressing the maiden ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi, Mr. He called for mutual trust, respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law and keeping channels of dialogue open to address conventional and emerging security threats. Mr. Such partnerships could encompass co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and long-term technical support.
Designating 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation offered an opportunity to translate common interests into practical outcomes, he added.
Singh said India sought an Indo-Pacific where countries, irrespective of their size, could make independent choices, protect their interests and pursue development peacefully. “India believes that security is strengthened when countries build capacity together, respect international law and maintain trust through dialogue,” he said, adding that regional cooperation should not force countries to choose sides. Singh said India’s Act East policy, along with its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions, aligned with ASEAN-led mechanisms central to New Delhi’s Indo-Pacific approach. Highlighting the shared maritime interests of India and Southeast Asian nations, he said cooperation in maritime domain awareness, interoperability and underwater surveillance was essential to maintaining a stable, rules-based maritime order. India was also ready to explore defence industrial partnerships with ASEAN members in patrol vessels, radars, air-defence systems, helicopters and drones, he said.
