Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for deeper defence industrial cooperation between India and Southeast Asian countries, proposing joint development and production of military equipment alongside research into counter-drone systems, cyber defence and maritime surveillance.Addressing the ASEAN-India defence think tank forum in New Delhi, Singh said India was ready to work with the regional grouping as an equal partner, with cooperation extending beyond equipment purchases to co-production, maintenance, training and long-term technical support, according to ANI.“Self-reliance doesn’t mean working in isolation. It can create opportunities for trusted partners to design, build, maintain, and improve equipment together,” Singh said.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional grouping of 11 countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Timor-Leste became ASEAN’s 11th member in October 2025.On defence technology, Singh said artificial intelligence, drones, cyber capabilities and space-based systems were becoming increasingly important for national security. Highlighting the changing nature of modern warfare, he stressed the need for India and ASEAN countries to collaborate on affordable defence technologies.“Recent conflicts have also shown that relatively low-cost drones can challenge much more expensive defence systems. We need to respond with practical, affordable and adaptable solutions,” he said.He also called for greater participation from startups, universities and research institutions in defence innovation, citing India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and Technology Development Fund as potential avenues for collaboration.India’s push for deeper defence cooperation with ASEAN comes amid growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, where Southeast Asia occupies a critical position along major maritime trade and energy routes.Stronger defence ties with ASEAN countries are important for India to protect its maritime interests, expand defence industrial partnerships and strengthen its regional presence.China’s growing military and maritime presence adds to the region’s strategic significance. Several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam, have maritime disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.Closer cooperation with ASEAN on maritime surveillance, information sharing and naval coordination could help India and regional partners strengthen their ability to monitor developments and protect vital sea lanes.