India Commits to Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism at ADMM-Plus in the Philippines

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted at the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Cebu, Philippines, that the safety of commercial shipping remains a national responsibility. He noted that India has successfully escorted thousands of merchant vessels and thwarted numerous high-seas hijackings.

During his address, Singh highlighted the proactive deployment of frontline warships by India, reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to serving as a reliable net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific. He stated that global trade routes face complex transnational threats, requiring effective action, regular operational presence, and international cooperation.

Singh described maritime cooperation as crucial to India’s engagement with ASEAN during 2026. He emphasized New Delhi’s designation of 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation and the conduct of the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise. According to the Defence Minister, the country consistently practices global laws on maritime security rather than merely preaching its tenets.

Highlighting the country's operational legacy, Singh mentioned that since 2008, the Indian Navy has maintained an uninterrupted, active presence in volatile corridors like the Gulf of Aden. This has been achieved without coercion or unilateral actions that undermine the rights of other nations, ensuring the freedom of navigation and the safeguarding of global Sea Lines of Communication.

The event's theme, 'Navigating Our Future, Together,' was noted by Singh as aligning with India's foreign and defence policy paradigms, as well as its civilisational ethos of 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah.' He stressed that international systems must be built on mutual trust, cooperation, and collective responsibility.

In addition to maritime security, Singh insisted on India’s zero tolerance for cross-border terror. He offered battle-tested security doctrines to regional partners to collectively challenge state-sponsored terrorism, citing the demonstration of this doctrine during Operation Sindoor, where India dismantled terrorist infrastructure.

Singh also pointed out that counter-terrorism remains an important area of cooperation under the ADMM-Plus framework, noting that India and Malaysia are currently co-chairing the Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024 to 2027 cycle.

"Secure maritime trade routes and regional stability are foundational elements for the growth of international commerce and business ecosystems. When governments and defence frameworks actively protect commercial shipping and enforce strict counter-terrorism measures, it creates a predictable and stable environment for trade, supply chains, and economic investments to thrive across the Indo-Pacific region." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes