Overview
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the 12th ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur on November 1, calling for an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific free from coercion.
- He underscored adherence to UNCLOS and freedom of navigation and overflight as legal foundations for regional stability, not directed at any single nation.
- India said the forum should connect strategy to execution through cooperation in cyber threats, maritime domain awareness and critical infrastructure protection.
- New Delhi signalled readiness to deepen defence cooperation and capacity-building with ASEAN and the Plus countries within an ASEAN-led security architecture.
- Singh framed India’s engagement as long-term and principle-driven under the MAHASAGAR vision, citing 15 years of ADMM-Plus experience and India’s current co-chairing of the counter-terrorism working group.