EAM Jaishankar Advocates for Rules-Based Indo-Pacific at 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum

At the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held in Manila, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. As the region faces evolving geopolitical complexities, India’s participation highlights its proactive role in shaping the security architecture of the ASEAN-led framework. A central theme of the Minister’s address was the call for 'zero tolerance' toward terrorism, emphasizing that the scourge of cross-border terrorism remains a primary threat to regional stability and economic prosperity. Beyond traditional security, the forum focused on critical non-traditional security challenges. Dr. Jaishankar highlighted maritime security as a cornerstone of regional cooperation, particularly in ensuring the freedom of navigation and adherence to international law, such as UNCLOS. Furthermore, the discussions identified cyber security and disaster resilience as essential pillars for future-proofing the region. With the increasing digitalization of economies, the Minister advocated for collaborative frameworks to mitigate cyber threats that target critical infrastructure. Simultaneously, given the Indo-Pacific's vulnerability to climate-induced disasters, he stressed the importance of sharing best practices and technology for disaster risk reduction and rapid response mechanisms.