India Committed To Freedom Of Navigation In International Waters: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said, India is committed to freedom of navigation in international waters, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in international waters. 

While speaking at 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ meeting - Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Jakarta he said, the conflicts extract a terrible toll in terms of human lives lost and livelihoods destroyed, disturb the stability at regional as well as global level and have adverse implications for food security, energy security etc.

The minister reiterated India’s commitment to work with ASEAN and plus countries to ensure peace, prosperity and security, which is an apt theme for this year’s ADMM Plus. 

He stressed the role of dialogue and diplomacy to have enduring peace, and in ensuring global stability and also reaffirmed India’s message to the world at large, that “this is not an era of war”, and spoke about the imperative to give up the “us versus them” mindset.