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Rajnath Singh in Malaysia: India Bolsters ASEAN Security Ties Amid Regional Shifts

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has arrived in Malaysia for a crucial two-day visit focused on regional security. He will participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus, where he'll reflect on 15 years of the forum's progress. The visit includes an important informal meeting with all ASEAN defence ministers to strengthen cooperation. This engagement highlights India's growing strategic partnership with Southeast Asian nations under its Act East Policy.

Key Points: Rajnath Singh Attends ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting in Malaysia

  • Rajnath Singh to address ADMM-Plus on 15 years of regional security cooperation
  • India co-chairs Counter Terrorism Experts Group with Malaysia until 2027
  • Second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise scheduled for 2026
  • Bilateral meetings planned with defence ministers from ADMM-Plus nations
  • ASEAN-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting to advance Act East Policy
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrives in Malaysia as India bolsters security ties with ASEAN members

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrives in Kuala Lumpur for ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting, strengthening India's security cooperation with Southeast Asian nations and advancing Act East Policy.

"The meeting aims to further strengthen defence and security cooperation among ASEAN member states & India - Indian Defence Ministry"

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 30

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Malaysia on Thursday on a two-day visit to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting - Plus (ADMM-Plus). High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, B N Reddy received Singh at the Subang Airbase.

The 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting - Plus (ADMM-Plus) is scheduled to be held in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur on November 1. Rajnath Singh will address the forum on 'Reflection on 15 years of ADMM-Plus and Charting the Way Forward'.

"On the sidelines, the second edition of ASEAN-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting, under the chairmanship of Malaysia, will be held on October 31, wherein Defence Ministers from all ASEAN member countries will take part. The meeting aims to further strengthen defence and security cooperation among ASEAN member states & India and advance the Act East Policy," read a statement issued by the Defence Ministry.

During his two-day visit to Kuala Lumpur, Singh is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the participating ADMM-Plus nations and Malaysia's senior leadership.

"ADMM is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste & Vietnam) and its eight Dialogue Partners (India, US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia & New Zealand) to strengthen security and defence cooperation," the statement added.

India became an ASEAN dialogue partner in 1992 and the inaugural ADMM-Plus was held in Vietnam's Hanoi on October 12, 2010. Since 2017, ADMM-Plus is held annually to strengthen the defence cooperation between ASEAN and plus countries. Under the construct of ADMM-Plus, India is the co-chair of Experts Working Group on Counter Terrorism with Malaysia for the cycle 2024-2027. The second edition of ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise is also scheduled in 2026.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see India taking a leadership role in counter-terrorism efforts with Malaysia. Hope these partnerships translate into concrete security benefits for our region. The maritime exercises in 2026 will be particularly important given the strategic waterways.
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Sarah B
While I appreciate the diplomatic efforts, I hope our government also focuses on domestic defence manufacturing. These international partnerships should help boost Make in India in defence sector. 🤔
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Arjun K
ASEAN partnership is vital for India's strategic interests. Many of these countries have significant Indian diaspora communities too. This visit strengthens both security and cultural bonds. Well done!
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Vikram M
The timing is perfect! With China's increasing influence in the region, India needs to strengthen its partnerships. ADMM-Plus gives us a platform to work with like-minded nations for regional peace and security.
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Michael C
Impressive to see India's consistent engagement since 1992. The fact that we're co-chairing counter-terrorism efforts shows the trust ASEAN nations have in our capabilities. This is soft power in action! 💪

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