Cebu [Philippines]: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s close defence ties with Japan and Australia through the message “JAI: Japan, Australia, India”, shared alongside a photograph with his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. The message came after Singh holds separate bilateral meetings with both leaders on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines.
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In his meeting with Marles, Singh reviewed bilateral defence cooperation and discussed ways to enhance military interoperability and regional coordination. He reiterated the importance India attached to its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia in promoting a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific. Singh also invited Marles to attend Aero India 2027, scheduled for February in Bengaluru.
The engagements underlined India’s efforts to deepen defence partnerships with key Indo-Pacific countries through military exchanges, industrial collaboration and closer strategic coordination. Cooperation with Japan and Australia forms an important part of New Delhi’s broader regional outreach as security dynamics across the Indo-Pacific continue to evolve.
The meetings took place during the 13th ADMM-Plus, held in Cebu on October 28–29. The forum bought together ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners, including India, Japan and Australia, to discuss regional security challenges and strengthen multilateral defence cooperation.
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