At the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), Indian Defence Minister (DM) Rajnath Singh stressed the role of dialogue and diplomacy in ensuring enduring peace and global stability.
On Thursday, Singh arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the meeting wherein the Indonesian DM and the Chair of ADMM-Plus, Prabowo Subianto, received him.
Not an Era of War
Singh highlighted that “conflicts extract a terrible toll in terms of human lives lost and livelihoods destroyed, disturb the stability at regional as well as global level, and have adverse implications for food security, energy security, etc.”
The DM emphasised India’s commitment to working with ASEAN and Plus countries to ensure peace, prosperity, and security — an apt theme for this year’s ADMM Plus.
Attended the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting - Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Jakarta and shared my thoughts on need for deepening collaboration among ASEAN and Plus countries for peace, prosperity & security in the region.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 16, 2023
We are committed towards nurturing practical,… pic.twitter.com/mxn71PMAjk
Singh cited Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote on peace: “There is no way to peace, peace is the only way.”
He reiterated Indian PM Narendra Modi’s message to the world that “this is not an era of war,” and spoke about the imperative to give up the “us versus them” mindset.
India Committed to Freedom of Navigation
Singh underlined India’s commitment to freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce in international waters in accordance with international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
The UNCLOS is an international agreement establishing the legal framework for marine and maritime activities.
The Indian DM also called for regional security initiatives that are consultative and development-oriented to reflect the larger consensus among various stakeholders.
ASEAN Central to Promote Dialogue in Region
In his address, Singh affirmed the centrality of ASEAN and appreciated its role in promoting dialogue and consensus in the region.
He outlined India’s commitment towards nurturing practical, forward-looking and result-oriented cooperation with ADMM-Plus for enhancing maritime security in the region.
Additionally, he appreciated ASEAN member states’ enthusiastic participation in India-ASEAN activities, particularly the Initiative for Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations and the Initiative for Marine Plastic Pollution Response.
The DM also hailed their participation in the first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise held this May.
Co-Chairing Expert Group on Terrorism
Singh lauded ASEAN members for being a part of the Expert Working Group (EWG) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) activities, of which India and Indonesia are co-chairs in the current 2020-2023 cycle.
Recognising that terrorism is a serious threat to international peace and security, including in the ASEAN region, India proposed co-chairing the Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism at the summit.
This proposal was endorsed by ADMM-Plus as terrorism remains a serious concern to countries in the region.
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh will attend the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting at Jakarta. He was received by the Indonesian Defence Minister and the Chair of ADMM Plus, Mr. Prabowo Subianto. pic.twitter.com/guQilfsPkP
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) November 16, 2023
The ADMM-Plus has seven EWGs: Maritime Security, Military Medicine, Cyber Security, Peacekeeping Operations, Counter Terrorism, Humanitarian Mine Action, and HADR.
ADMM-Plus Ministers Meetings
India became a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1992.
With its member states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, ASEAN has eight Dialogue Partners, including India, the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
ADMM-Plus was inaugurated in 2010. Its meetings are held to increase cooperation among the ASEAN and Plus countries.