India seeks to push pace of defence cooperation with South-east Asia

It sees opening in enhancing its presence in region where China has influence: Analysts

- Nirmala Ganapathy

NEW DELHI - India is ramping up the pace of defence cooperation with South-east Asia – a region it increasingly views through a defence and security lens – from offering weapons to Indonesia to exploring joint defence production with Thailand and Malaysia.

This is in line with India's growing ambitions, which have gathered pace of late, to increase influence beyond its immediate neighbourhood of South Asia and grow its global footprint.

Analysts noted that India sees an opening in enhancing its presence through defence and security ties in a region where China already has large pockets of economic and strategic influence.

Fearful of disruptions to defence supplies from Russia, many South-east Asian countries have also been looking to diversify their defence imports.

India is in advanced talks to sell the BrahMos missile in multimillion-dollar deals to Vietnam and Indonesia. The supersonic cruise missile, which can hit sea- or land-based targets, is a joint collaboration between India and Russia.

In Indonesia's case, while the deal worth US$500 million (S$676.3 million) was not clinched as anticipated during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's visit to India for its Republic Day parade on Jan 26, he announced that a high-level defence delegation would visit India soon.

"To strengthen our cooperation in the defence sector, we have decided to work together in the areas of defence manufacturing and supply chain," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with Mr Prabowo on Jan 25, calling Indonesia an "important partner in the Asean and Indo-Pacific regions".

India is also exploring defence production with other countries, including Thailand and Malaysia.

At the first India-Malaysia Security Dialogue on Jan 7, the two countries agreed to look into defence industry collaboration, which could include sharing defence equipment and manufacturing capabilities.