Rajnath Singh Affirms Commitment to Open, Coercion-Free Indo-Pacific with ASEAN
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh today asserted that India’s emphasis on the rule of law—including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea—and its push for freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific are not directed against any single country. Instead, he stated that these efforts are meant “to safeguard the collective interests of all regional stakeholders.”
Speaking at the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, the Defence Minister declared that India’s strategic engagement with ASEAN is “long-term & principle-driven,” resting on the shared belief that the Indo-Pacific must remain open, inclusive, and free from coercion.
He highlighted that India’s approach integrates defence cooperation with economic development and is guided by the spirit of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions). Shri Singh called the ADMM-Plus an essential part of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and reaffirmed India’s readiness to deepen cooperation to promote dialogue and stability.
