Rajnath Singh calls for joint efforts against ‘bio-terrorism’ at ASEAN Defence Ministers’ meet

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday called for a concerted effort by Southeast Asian countries to fight emerging threats to regional peace and security, such as ‘bio-terrorism’ and pandemics.

“We need to continue our efforts to address the threats of bio-terrorism and pandemic diseases. Threats to the rules-based order, maritime security, cyber related crimes and terrorism, just to name a few, remain the challenges that we need to address as a forum,” the Defence Minister said at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM).

Singh said that the forum has grown in the past decade to become the fulcrum of peace, stability and rules-based order in the region.

“Amid the current regional environment with visible strains, we appreciate the central role of ASEAN-led forums, including ADMM Plus in promoting dialogue and engagement towards a pluralistic, cooperative security order in Asia. The ADMM Plus has grown in the last decade to become the fulcrum of peace, stability and rules-based order in this region. The concepts of – ‘vasudhaive kutumbakam’ – ‘the whole world is one family’, ‘sarve bhavantu sukhinah’ – ‘all be at peace’ – are at the core of the Indian civilization,” the Raksha Mantri said.

He said that “exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation, will go a long way in bringing sustained peace to the region”.

“The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific underscores this impetus to cultivate strategic trust and continuously promote ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture. The support of the military establishments of our respective countries to their civilian law enforcement counterparts is important,” Singh added.

The Defence Minister addressed the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.

The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight partners to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.