Kuala Lumpur, Oct 31 (NationPress) The Malaysian Defence Minister, Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, emphasized during a recent gathering that the ASEAN nations view India as a 'global powerhouse of knowledge and innovation'. He highlighted that India's strengths encompass not just military prowess, but also its leadership in science, technology, and innovation.

The minister made these comments while presiding over the ASEAN–India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., the Secretary of National Defence of the Philippines, serving as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN–India Dialogue Relations.

In his opening statements, Seri Mohamed Khaled expressed gratitude for India's robust engagement, affirming that the ASEAN–India partnership is crucial for ensuring regional peace, stability, and prosperity. He pointed out that in the current landscape of shifting power dynamics and uncertainties, collaboration between ASEAN and India is not just feasible but vital for tackling emerging security concerns.

He described India as a 'global powerhouse of knowledge and innovation', stressing that the country's strength is manifested in its military capabilities as well as its leadership in science, technology, and innovation. Two primary areas for future collaboration were outlined: cyber security and digital defence, alongside defence industry and innovation.

The minister reiterated that the partnership between ASEAN and India serves as a testament to the effectiveness of dialogue and the importance of partnership. He believed this meeting would lay the groundwork for a rejuvenated phase of ASEAN–India cooperation, anchored in trust, innovation, and a mutual commitment to peace and stability in the region.

YB Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled also pointed out that India's advanced cyber ecosystem and its Defence Cyber Agency provide invaluable opportunities for training, capacity building, and safeguarding critical infrastructure across ASEAN. He acknowledged India's expanding expertise in fields such as aerospace, unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and defence manufacturing, advocating for joint research, industrial cooperation, and academic exchanges to promote self-reliance in the region's defence sector.

Both ministers engaged in bilateral discussions aimed at enhancing the defence partnership.

Singh later shared on X about the productive conversation with Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, highlighting discussions on strengthening the India-Malaysia defence partnership.

The second edition of the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting, led by Malaysia, convened on Friday, with participation from defence ministers of all ASEAN member countries. The meeting's focus was on advancing defence and security collaboration among ASEAN states and India while promoting the 'Act East Policy'.

The ADMM (ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting) is the highest consultative and cooperative defence mechanism in ASEAN. The ADMM-Plus serves as a platform for ASEAN member states, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam, along with its eight Dialogue Partners, which include India, United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, to enhance security and defence collaborations.

India has been a dialogue partner of ASEAN since 1992, and the inaugural ADMM-Plus was held in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 12, 2010. Since 2017, the ADMM-Plus has taken place annually to strengthen defence cooperation among ASEAN and its partner countries.

In the ADMM-Plus framework, India serves as the co-chair of the Experts Working Group on Counter Terrorism alongside Malaysia for the 2024-2027 cycle. The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise is also slated for 2026.