Rajnath Singh says India will protect commercial shipping, combat cross-border

SENSEX 74,151.04

+ 905.01

NIFTY 22,936.75

+ 237.90

CRUDEOIL 9,647.00

 -151.00

GOLD 143,330.00

 -375.00

SILVER 192,111.00

 -2,214.00

SENSEX 74,151.04

+ 905.01

NIFTY 22,936.75

+ 237.90

NIFTY 22,936.75

+ 237.90

CRUDEOIL 9,647.00

 -151.00

CRUDEOIL 9,647.00

 -151.00

GOLD 143,330.00

 -375.00

'; } document.getElementById("lgdv").innerHTML = htmlElements; } function numberformat(i) { return Number(parseFloat(i).toFixed(2)).toLocaleString('en', { minimumFractionDigits: 2 }) } async function gatherResponse(response) { const { headers } = response; const contentType = headers.get('content-type') || ''; if (contentType.includes('application/json')) { return await response.json() } return response.text(); } function getWidth() { if (Math.max(document.body.scrollWidth,document.documentElement.scrollWidth,document.body.offsetWidth,document.documentElement.offsetWidth,document.documentElement.clientWidth) > 991) { document.getElementById("mob").style.display = "none"; document.getElementById("lgdv").style.display = "block"; } else { document.getElementById("mob").style.display = "block"; document.getElementById("lgdv").style.display = "none"; } } getWidth(); THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.

He reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy towards cross-border terrorism at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-Plus) in the Philippines

By BL New Delhi Bureau

Updated - October 29, 2026 at 04:02 PM.

In this screengrab from a video received on Oct. 29, 2026, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) - Plus, in Cebu, Philippines. | Photo Credit: Via PTI Photo

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-Plus) in the Philippines that the safety of commercial shipping is a national responsibility, as it has successfully escorted thousands of merchant vessels and thwarted dozens of high-seas hijackings.

Highlighting India’s proactive deployment of frontline warships during his address at the ADMM- Plus, he reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to serving as a reliable net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific.

“In an era where global trade routes face complex transnational threats, India stands ready to move beyond rhetoric. There is a need for effective action, regular operational presence and international cooperation. India will continue serving as a reliable net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific,” the Defence Minister said.

Maritime cooperation with ASEAN

He described maritime cooperation as crucial to India’s engagement with ASEAN during 2026. Emphasising New Delhi’s designation of 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation and the conduct of the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, he said the country does not merely preach the tenets of international maritime law but steadfastly practices global laws on maritime security.

“Our commitment to ensuring the freedom of navigation and safeguarding global Sea Lines of Communication is backed by a continuous, decades-long operational legacy. Since 2008, the Indian Navy has maintained an uninterrupted, active presence in highly volatile corridors like the Gulf of Aden, without coercion or unilateral actions that undermine the rights of other nations,” he said.

Singh also stated that the theme of the event, ‘Navigating Our Future, Together’ resonated with India’s foreign and defence policy paradigms as well as its civilisational ethos of ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’ (May all beings be happy). “This theme reminds us that our greatest strength lies in our solidarity and the shared ability to leverage our geographic, economic and strategic diversity. India believes in an international system built on mutual trust, co-operation, and collective responsibility. It is this precise collaborative spirit that empowers us to overcome the challenges to peace and order,” he said.

India reiterates zero tolerance for cross-border terror

He also insisted on India’s zero tolerance for cross-border terror at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in the Philippines, and offered battle-tested security doctrines to regional partners to collectively challenge state-sponsored terrorism.

Singh stated that this proactive, battle-tested doctrine was decisively demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, when India dismantled terrorist infrastructure and enforced a non-negotiable red line against state-sponsored terror.

He stressed that counter-terrorism remains an important area of cooperation under the ADMM-Plus framework, and India & Malaysia are co-chairing the Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024 to 2027 cycle.

Published on October 29, 2026

THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.Sign into Unlock benefits!

• Access 10 free stories per month
• Get notified by email for early preview to new features, discounts & offers