India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting

In News

• The maiden India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting was recently held at Siem Reap in Cambodia to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of India-ASEAN relations.

More about the meet

• India’s proposals:
  • The Defence Minister of India made two proposals for expanding the scope and the depth of the India-ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian Nations) defence relations. These include: 
    • An initiative for women in United Nations Peacekeeping (UNPK) operations and, 
    • Initiative on marine plastic pollution.
  • India-ASEAN Initiative for women in UNPK operations:
    • It includes the conduct of tailor-made courses for women peacekeepers of ASEAN member states at the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in India. 
    • It also includes the conduct of a ‘Table top Exercise’ in India for women officers from ASEAN incorporating facets of UNPK challenges.
  • Initiative on marine plastic pollution:
    • About:
      • It includes channelising of the energy of the youth towards addressing the critical issue of marine pollution. 
    • Role of India’s National Cadet Corps (NCC):
      • Minister informed the ASEAN members of the significant work done by the NCC in the cleaning of Indian beaches and raising awareness about plastic pollution in the coastal community. 
      • Coordination with NCC:
        • He suggested coordination between the NCC and the equivalent youth organisations of ASEAN countries for a collective effort in this direction in the region.
    • India-ASEAN marine pollution response centre:
      • The minister proposed the establishment of an India-ASEAN marine pollution response centre at Chennai by the Indian Coast Guard to address and supplement regional efforts to deal with marine pollution incidents. 
• India’s Act East Policy:
  • The minister also emphasised that the centrality of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific region is the cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy.

Significance of ASEAN for India

• India-ASEAN strategic partnership:
  • The India-ASEAN strategic partnership has been strengthened by virtue of flourishing cultural and civilisational links and enhanced people-to-people cooperation. 
• ASEAN led Mechanisms:
  • India shares a deep connection with ASEAN and has continued its active engagement in many areas contributing to regional peace and stability, particularly through ASEAN led mechanisms, such as:
    • East Asia Summit.
    • ASEAN Regional Forum.
    • ADMM-Plus. 
      • The ADMM Plus is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and eight dialogue partner countries – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.
• Maritime Connectivity & Security:
  • India is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and ASEAN Countries have borders with Indo-Pacific waters. 
    • This opens up plenty of opportunities for India and other countries to work on maritime security, trade, and better supply chain networks.
  • India is consciously working with ASEAN towards a vision of an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific in tandem with initiatives such as 
    • The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), 
    • To ensure Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). 
  • India and some of the ASEAN countries are also members of the recently launched Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
• Checks Chinese Dominance: 
  • Maritime cooperation in terms of connectivity, safety and security has gained high attention in the backdrop of China’s advancements in the South China Sea. 
  • India will gain better positioning against China’s increasing dominating presence in the area.
• Act East Policy & Indo-Pacific:
  • Indo-Pacific is an interconnected geography where ASEAN is at its core. 
  • Both ASEAN and India believe that openness, inclusiveness, rules-based order, freedom of navigation and peaceful settlement of disputes lie at the very core of the Indo-Pacific.

Source: AIR