He was addressing the maiden Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - India Defence Think Tank Forum at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi on October 14, 2026.
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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
“India seeks an Indo-Pacific where all countries - large and small - make their own choices, protect their interests and pursue development in peace,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh as he called for building trust, respecting each other’s sovereignty, following international law and keeping channels of dialogue open to tackle both emerging and conventional “borderless challenges”.
Source: Press Information Bureau (official). The summary and key points are quoted from that release; no AI is used. Check the source for the full text.
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Raksha Mantri highlighted the centuries-old close ties between India and Southeast Asia rooted in shared history, culture, trade & ideas, reiterating that the Act East Policy is a long-term commitment to working with the region as an equal partner.
Raksha Mantri stressed that as 2026 has been designated as ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, it is an opportunity to turn shared interest into practical action.
Being held on October 14 & 15, 2026, the forum aims to strengthen strategic dialogue, promote joint analysis and identify practical avenues for enhanced defence and security cooperation between India and ASEAN.
The initiative follows the announcement made by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh during the second ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on October 31, 2025, on the sidelines of the 12th ADMM-Plus.
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