Rajnath Singh invites ASEAN countries to benefit from India’s defence technology

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has invited the ASEAN partners to benefit from India’s defence technology ecosystem, saying that it has matured due to the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ efforts of the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He termed INS Vikrant and Visakhapatnam-class destroyers as symbols of India’s transformation into a ‘Builder’s Navy’.

On the sidelines of the MILAN 2026 Naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Rajnath Singh held an interaction with the visiting Navy Chiefs and delegations from nine ASEAN member states on Thursday.

The meeting underscored India’s commitment to its ‘Act East Policy’ and the vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).

Welcoming the participation of ASEAN navies in MILAN 2026, Mr. Rajnath Singh noted that the exercise had grown from its modest 1995 beginnings with four foreign navies to its largest-ever edition in February 2026, involving 74 nations.

He emphasised the importance of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)- Conclave of Chiefs and the International Fleet Review 2026 in fostering trust and operational familiarity among Indo-Pacific partners.

The discussions also covered the ongoing Sea Phase of MILAN 2026, focusing on complex maritime drills including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defence, and search-and-rescue operations.

Mr. Rajnath Singh described ASEAN as a central pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and emphasised that shared security is the foundation of regional prosperity.

Reiterating sentiments from India-ASEAN informal meeting in late 2025, the ASEAN delegates lauded India’s role as a first responder in the region.

Mr. Rajnath Singh proposed expanding joint activities, specifically through the ASEAN-India Defence Think-Tank Interaction and initiatives involving younger generations of naval officers to ensure long-term maritime stability.

The interaction concluded with a shared commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, anchored by the spirit of ‘Camaraderie, Cooperation, and Collaboration’ – the official theme of MILAN 2026, an official release said.