WorldFirst ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum opens a new track for strategic dialogue
Experts from India and all ASEAN members are discussing maritime awareness, HADR, cyber, space, unmanned systems and defence-industry cooperation.
THE INDIQA Research DeskPublished 15 Oct 2026Updated 30 Oct 20261 min read
India hosted the first ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum on 14-15 October, bringing together experts from India and all ASEAN member states. The agenda includes maritime domain awareness, interoperability, underwater cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, cyber, space, unmanned systems and defence-industry collaboration.
The forum follows an earlier decision to institutionalise a defence think-tank track. It is a Track 1.5/knowledge-dialogue mechanism rather than a treaty body or operational military command. Its value lies in building shared concepts, research networks and policy options that can later inform official cooperation.
For civil-services preparation, the forum fits India's Act East Policy and ASEAN centrality. Defence engagement in the Indo-Pacific increasingly includes non-traditional security, HADR and maritime awareness alongside conventional strategic concerns.
CIVIL SERVICES VIEWStudy this development
GS-IIGS-IIIAct East Policy; ASEAN; maritime and defence cooperationPrelims: MediumMains: HighModerate
Why this matters
The first ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum was held on 14-15 October 2026.
Key facts
- ASEAN has 11 members in 2026.
- The forum includes India and all ASEAN members.
- HADR and maritime domain awareness are key cooperation areas.
Key terms
- ASEAN
- Act East
- maritime domain awareness
- HADR
Arguments, challenges and policy responses
- ASEAN centrality
- Maritime security cooperation
- Track 1.5 strategic dialogue
India’s context
ASEAN is central to India's Indo-Pacific and Act East engagement, especially in maritime and non-traditional security.
Keep in mind
The forum is not a collective-defence alliance or operational military headquarters.
Practice question
How does defence think-tank cooperation complement formal diplomacy in India's Act East Policy?
Revision summary
- The forum creates an expert-level institutional dialogue.
- It is not a military alliance.
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