Rajnath Singh, Union Minister for Defence, paid a 2-day visit to Cambodia, from 22nd to 23rd November 2022, to take part in the maiden India-ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Defence Ministers Meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
- He also took part in the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting plus held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 23rd Novmber 2022.
22nd November 2022: First India-ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting held in Siem Reap, Cambodia:Â
The maiden India-ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Defence Ministers Meeting held on 22nd November 2022, in Siem Reap, Cambodia to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of India-ASEAN relations.
Chair:Â
The meeting was co-chaired by Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister, Government of India and General Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Cambodia.
- The meeting was presided over by Rajnath Singh to commemorate 30 years of India-ASEAN relations.
Key Points:
During the meeting, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh proposed 2 major initiatives to expand the scope and depth of the India-ASEAN defence relations. The 2 initiatives are:
- India-ASEAN Initiative for Women in UN Peace-Keeping Operations
- India-ASEAN Initiative on Marine Plastic Pollution
India-ASEAN Initiative for Women in UN Peace-Keeping Operations
The India-ASEAN Initiative for Women in UN Peace-Keeping Operations includes
- Conducting custom-made courses for women peacekeepers of ASEAN Member States at the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in India
- Conducting ‘Table Top Exercise’ in India for women officers from ASEAN incorporating facets of UN peacekeeping challenges
India-ASEAN Initiative on Marine Plastic Pollution
The India-ASEAN Initiative on Marine Plastic Pollution includes channelising the energy of the youth towards addressing the critical issue of marine pollution.
Defence Minister noted that the NCC National Cadet Corps plays a significant role in cleaning Indian beaches and raising awareness about plastic pollution among the coastal community.
The ASEAN defence Ministers unanimously endorsed the practicality and relevance of both initiatives. They also acknowledged the role of India in the Southeast Asian region.
Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh also proposed the establishment of an India-ASEAN Marine Pollution Response Centre at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, by the Indian Coast Guard to address and supplement regional efforts to deal with marine pollution incidents.
23rd November 2022: 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting plus held in Siem Reap, Cambodia
On 23rd November 2022, during his 2-day visit to Cambodia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Defence minister was accompanied by Giridhar Aramane, Defence Secretary, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Marshal Balabhadra Radha Krishna along with officials of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs.
About ADMM:
i.ADMM is an annual meeting of the Defence Ministers of the ASEAN countries(Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, & Viet Nam) and its 8 dialogue partner countries(India, the United States of America, Russia, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea).
Key points:
The 9th ADMM Plus adopted the Joint Declaration by the ADMM-Plus Defence Ministers on Defence Cooperation to Strengthen Solidarity for A Harmonised Security,
Highlights of Defence minister’s Address:
He called for urgent and resolute global efforts to counter transnational and cross-border terrorism and termed it the gravest threat to regional and global security.
He also highlighted the other security concerns that emerged in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic which include challenges to Energy and Food Security.
About Cambodia:
Prime Minister– Hun Sen
Capital– Phnom Penh
Currency– Cambodian riel
About ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations):
ASEAN was established on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Members- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, & Viet Nam
Headquarters– Jakarta, Indonesia
