CEBU, October 29 (Aalimi Nation) – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that India will continue to act as a "trusted net security provider" in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific, as he addressed the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus in the Philippine city of Cebu.
The forum brings together defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its dialogue partners.
Maritime security, the minister said, has a direct bearing on the peace, security and prosperity of the region. He said the meeting's theme, "Navigating Our Future Together", sits comfortably with India's own defence and foreign policy outlook.
Mr. Singh said the Indian Navy's frontline warships have protected thousands of merchant vessels and foiled numerous attempts to hijack ships. He added that this protection is not restricted to any particular flag or nationality, and that India regards securing commercial shipping as its responsibility.
He also voiced concern over disruptions to some maritime trade routes, saying that statements alone are not enough.
The minister stressed respect for the rule of law at sea, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, along with freedom of navigation and overflight. He said these principles are "not directed against any country." India, he added, will keep working with ASEAN partners on maritime safety, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, capacity building and adherence to international law.
On terrorism, Mr. Singh said India is ready to share what he called its "battle-tested" counter-terror expertise with ADMM-Plus partners. He said this could take the form of joint military exercises, capacity-building programmes and intelligence sharing.
He pointed to Operation Sindoor, carried out last year, in which he said a significant number of terrorist infrastructure facilities were destroyed, describing it as a declaration of India's clear stance against state-sponsored terrorism. India's experience, he said, comes from decades of dealing with cross-border threats, which he linked to Pakistan's use of terrorism against India.
Mr. Singh also said India supports a secure and resilient Indo-Pacific in which peace and stability are the result of collective effort.
The minister was also reported to have met his South Korean counterpart, Kang Shin-chul, in Cebu on October 28, on the margins of the meeting. A detailed official account of what the two sides discussed was not available at the time of writing.
The ADMM-Plus is a regular platform for defence dialogue between ASEAN and its partners, and maritime security has been a recurring subject on its agenda. The call for adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea has been repeated by several ASEAN states and other democracies in recent years, with China's growing military assertiveness in the South China Sea frequently mentioned in that context.
Officials have not announced any new exercise or programme as a result of the Cebu meeting. Further details of any follow-up with ASEAN partners would be expected from the Ministry of Defence.
