ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus an integral part of India s Act East Policy Rajnath Singh.

Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], November 1 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday described the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) as an integral part of India's Act East Policy and broader Indo-Pacific vision, highlighting its role in transforming defence cooperation into a dynamic framework for regional peace, stability, and practical collaboration.

Addressing the 12th ADMM-Plus forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Defence Minister noted that the elevation of the ASEAN-India partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022 symbolised not only the political maturity of the relationship but also a deep convergence in regional priorities.

"For India, the ADMM-Plus is an integral part of its 'Act East Policy' and broader Indo-Pacific vision. While India's engagement with ASEAN predates this, this mechanism has provided a structured platform for defence cooperation, further strengthening our diplomatic and economic aspects," Singh said while addressing the meeting.

"In 2022, when the ASEAN-India partnership was elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership status, it was not only a symbol of political maturity but also a testament to the deep convergence in regional priorities," he added.

Introduced in 1992, the Look East policy focused primarily on economic ties with Southeast Asia. With the changing dynamics of the world, PM Modi introduced a new vigour in India's foreign policy in 2014, transforming the Look East Policy into a more dynamic Act East Policy (AEP), which emphasises more decisive action and outcomes.

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Courtesy: The Tribune -11-Nov-2025