India emphasized the importance of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and supported dialogue to address geopolitical challenges at a senior officials' meeting in Manila. Discussions focused on regional security and maintaining a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
India's participation and advocacy at the ARF signal its commitment to multilateral security frameworks and a stable Indo-Pacific region amidst rising geopolitical tensions.
India has underscored the critical value of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) framework and its commitment to dialogue and diplomatic engagement to navigate modern geopolitical hurdles. The stance was articulated by Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon, who led the Indian delegation at the ARF Senior Officials' Meeting in Manila on June 9, 2026.
During the meeting, the Indian delegation highlighted the ARF mechanism's relevance and supported dialogue and diplomacy in addressing contemporary geopolitical challenges. Senior diplomats engaged in extensive discussions on the fluid global dynamics, with a call for combined efforts to maintain a rules-based order for the global commons in the Indo-Pacific.
The ARF was established in 1993 as a specialized vehicle for regional security cooperation and dialogue, growing out of discussions during the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference. Its strategy, adopted in 1995, involves confidence-building measures, preventive diplomacy, and approaches to conflict resolution, guided by ASEAN's principles of consensus and gradual progress.
The forum includes 27 member nations, comprising the 11 ASEAN member states, 10 dialogue partners (including Australia, China, the EU, India, Japan, Russia, and the US), and additional regional participants like Bangladesh, North Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Papua New Guinea.