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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Malaysia next week to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), beginning October 30 in Kuala Lumpur. The high-profile gathering will bring together defence ministers from ASEAN member states, along with representatives from major regional partners including China, the United States, India, and others.
During the visit, Singh is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with defence counterparts from two ASEAN nations who have shown keen interest in procuring the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. Sources indicated that several other Southeast Asian countries are also exploring larger defence platforms from India, seeking to diversify their import sources amid evolving regional security dynamics.
Strengthening Regional Security Cooperation
The upcoming ADMM-Plus is expected to focus heavily on maritime security, freedom of navigation, and stability in the Indo-Pacific, given ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. India and ASEAN are likely to reiterate their shared commitment to upholding international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to promoting peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms.
Officials said discussions will also cover blue economy cooperation, sustainable fisheries, marine biodiversity, and climate resilience, to bolster the region’s security and sustainability. The first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME), held in May 2023, was cited as a milestone in building regional maritime capacity and trust.
Counter-Terrorism, Peacekeeping, and Humanitarian Focus
Counter-terrorism is expected to remain a top agenda item at the meeting. India currently co-chairs the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (2024–2027), and Singh is likely to stress greater cooperation in information sharing, cyber defence, and capacity building to counter emerging transnational threats.
The ADMM-Plus discussions are also expected to cover peacekeeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. Several ASEAN nations, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, recently participated in the UN Peacekeeping Chiefs’ Conclave here in New Delhi earlier this month, reflecting growing interest in enhancing coordination with India on peace operations.
India’s Broader ASEAN Engagement
The Defence Minister’s visit to Malaysia comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual participation in the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit on October 26, where leaders will review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and ASEAN.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the 20th East Asia Summit on October 27 in Kuala Lumpur. Both meetings are expected to reaffirm India’s commitment to the Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific vision, underscoring cooperation in security, connectivity, and sustainable development.
India’s Engagement with China
Singh’s visit follows a series of engagements with his Chinese counterparts earlier this year, including a June meeting with Defence Minister Dong Jun in Qingdao, where both sides discussed border de-escalation and the need for a permanent boundary solution. The minister had also met the then Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu in Laos last year, calling for the identification of the root causes of the border standoff.
Looking Ahead
Analysts view the Malaysia meeting as a crucial opportunity for India to deepen defence diplomacy in Southeast Asia, particularly amid the region’s increasing focus on strategic autonomy and supply diversification. Singh’s bilateral meetings on the sidelines are expected to reinforce India’s growing role as a reliable defence and security partner in the Indo-Pacific.
Huma Siddiqui
