India Asks ASEAN Nations for Closer Defence Ties and Joint Military Tech Work

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asked for stronger defence ties and joint technology work between India and ASEAN countries on Wednesday in New Delhi. Speaking at the first-ever ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, he pitched for joint research, building military equipment together, and better sea safety to handle new regional problems. Mr. Singh stated that India wants an Indo-Pacific region where all nations, big or small, can make their own choices, guard their interests, and grow in peace. He asked for mutual trust, respect for borders, following international rules, and open talks to fight normal and new security dangers. He noted that regional teamwork should not make countries pick sides. His speech mentioned that India's Act East policy, alongside the SAGAR and MAHASAGAR visions, fits well with ASEAN-led groups. He pointed out that India and Southeast Asian nations share sea interests, making teamwork in sea tracking, smooth naval working, and underwater watching vital for a stable, rule-based sea order. He noted that making 2026 the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation gives a chance to turn shared goals into real results, calling for more data sharing, teamwork between navies and coast guards, and joint action against sea robbery, smuggling, and illegal fishing. On military technology, Mr. Singh pointed to the rising value of artificial intelligence, drones, cyber tools, and space systems. He pointed to India's iDEX and TDF projects as good models for teamwork involving start-ups, colleges, and research groups, mainly for anti-drone gear, cyber safety, and sea watch. India is also open to military manufacturing partnerships with ASEAN members for patrol boats, radars, air-defence tools, choppers, and drones, covering joint design, building, upkeep, fixes, training, and long-term technical help. He asked think tanks to build a joint study plan, pick pilot projects, and boost researcher swaps, while also asking for more teamwork in relief work during natural disasters. The two-day event runs on October 14 and 15, gathering people from India and all 11 ASEAN member states.

Context

India and the ASEAN bloc share long-standing diplomatic and economic ties, with security cooperation becoming a major focus in recent years due to changing geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Think tank forums of this nature serve as academic and strategic platforms to bridge policy-making and research before governments finalize formal bilateral pacts.