Rajnath Singh pitches joint defence production with ASEAN countries
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has proposed deeper industrial cooperation with ASEAN nations, focusing on joint production of military equipment and research into emerging technologies like drones and cyber defence. He emphasized that self-reliance does not mean isolation and invited regional partners to collaborate on affordable, adaptable security solutions.
Why it matters
This initiative signals India's strategic intent to strengthen its influence in the Indo-Pacific region and reduce reliance on external military imports by fostering regional defense partnerships.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for deeper defence industrial cooperation between India and Southeast Asian countries, proposing joint development and production of military equipment alongside research into counter-drone systems, cyber defence and maritime surveillance.Addressing the ASEAN-India defence think tank forum in New Delhi, Singh said India was ready to work with the regional grouping as an equal partner, with cooperation extending beyond equipment purchases to co-production, maintenance, training and long-term technical support, according to ANI.“Self-reliance doesn't mean working in isolation. It can create opportunities for trusted partners to design, build, maintain, and improve equipment together,” Singh said.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional grouping of 11 countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
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