In a significant diplomatic push, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh engaged in a series of high-level meetings with his counterparts from New Zealand, South Korea, and Vietnam on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) in Vientiane, Laos.
Strengthening Indo-Pacific Partnerships
The defence minister's packed schedule saw him building bridges with key regional players, emphasizing India's growing role in maintaining regional stability and security cooperation.
Meeting with New Zealand's Defence Minister Judith Collins
During his productive discussion with New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins, both leaders explored avenues to deepen defence cooperation between the two nations. The talks focused on enhancing maritime security collaboration and strengthening ties within the Indo-Pacific framework.
Strategic Dialogue with South Korea's Shin Won-sik
The meeting with South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik proved particularly significant, with both ministers reviewing the progress of various bilateral defence initiatives. They discussed ways to further strengthen the special strategic partnership between India and South Korea, with particular emphasis on defence industrial cooperation and technology sharing.
Comprehensive Partnership with Vietnam's Phan Van Giang
In his meeting with Vietnamese Defence Minister Phan Van Giang, Rajnath Singh discussed measures to implement the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The ministers explored opportunities to enhance defence industrial collaboration and capacity-building initiatives.
ADMM Plus: A Platform for Regional Security
The ADMM Plus forum, comprising ASEAN members and eight dialogue partners including India, serves as a crucial platform for security cooperation in the region. India's active participation underscores its commitment to the ASEAN-led security architecture and its 'Act East' policy.
The bilateral meetings yielded positive outcomes, with all parties agreeing to maintain regular high-level exchanges and deepen practical cooperation across various defence domains. These engagements reflect India's growing strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific and its commitment to building resilient security partnerships.
