India seeks an Indo-Pacific where all countries make their own choices, protect their interests & pursue development in peace: Raksha Mantri at 1st ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh addressed the 1st ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum in New Delhi, highlighting India's vision for an open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Emphasising India's Act East Policy, SAGAR, and MAHASAGAR frameworks, he called for building trust, respecting sovereignty, adhering to international law, and maintaining open dialogue to counter conventional and emerging borderless challenges such as terrorism, maritime security risks, and climate-related disasters. Marking 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, the address stressed practical steps including enhanced maritime domain awareness, interoperability, information sharing, and joint action against illegal fishing and piracy. Furthermore, the Raksha Mantri invited cooperation in defence technology, co-development, co-production, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).