Indo-Pacific Monitor
October 2025 was marked by changes of government in Japan, the Seychelles and Madagascar. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi was elected as the prime minister on October 21. In the Seychelles, Patrick Herminie was elected as President on October 12. In Madagascar, a military coup deposed President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country, and Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as President on October 17.
The month was also marked by multilateral summits. The ASEAN and related summits took place in Kuala Lumpur from October 26-28, while the APEC summit commenced at Gyeongju, South Korea on October 31.
UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer visited India from October 08-09, with a delegation comprising over 125 business leaders and the Vice Chancellors of nine universities. Visit outcomes focused on trade and investment, technology and innovation, education and the defence sector. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya visited India from October 16-18.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the US from October 19-21, signing a landmark deal for the processing of rare earths and critical minerals and obtaining public endorsement of the AUKUS pact from President Trump.
US President Donald Trump undertook the first tour of the Indo-Pacific during his second term from October 26-30. In Kuala Lumpur on October 26, he witnessed the signing of a joint declaration by Cambodia and Thailand to move towards resolving longstanding hostilities over their shared border. In Japan from October 27-29, he formalised a new “Golden Age” framework for the US-Japan alliance. In South Korea on October 30, he announced that the US will share nuclear technology with South Korea to allow it to build nuclear-powered submarines in the US. His visit culminated in a summit meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping at Busan on October 30, during which deals were struck on export of Chinese rare earths and a reduction in fentanyl related tariffs on China.
Australia and Singapore commemorated the 60th anniversary of their relations by upgrading ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0 during the visit of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to Australia on October 08. Australia and Papua New Guinea signed a mutual defence treaty at Canberra on October 06, during the visit of PNG Prime Minister James Marape to Canberra.
The October 2025 edition of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook was launched on October 14. The outlook projects the world’s economic growth rate slowing from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026. India remains the world’s fastest growing large economy, with growth rate accelerating to 6.6% in 2025 but slowing to 6.2% in 2026.
India’s Defence Minister visited Australia on October 09-10 for the maiden India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, reviewing the gamut of India-Australia defence relations. He also visited Kuala Lumpur from October 31 to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. He met with the US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines, and both leaders signed the 10-year framework agreement for the US-India Major Defence Partnership.
An expert Japanese panel recommended upgrading future submarines with long-range vertically launched strike missiles as well as advanced propulsion, including nuclear. The panel’s report will now be considered by Japan’s Ministry of Defence.
Japan’s Sanae Takaichi led government announced its decision to revise the three key security documents – the National Security Strategy, the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Buildup Programme – by the end of 2026. The government also announced that it is considering accelerating the target of increasing defence spending to 2% of the GDP from 2027 to this fiscal year. Separately, the LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi indicated an intent to liberalise defence exports by revising or scrapping the long-standing three principles on transfer of defence equipment and technology.
Australia protested the unsafe behaviour of a Chinese interceptor aircraft that dropped flares in close proximity to its P-8 Poseidon aircraft operating near the Paracel Islands on October 19.
The India-UK naval exercise KONKAN 2025 took place off India’s Western seaboard from October 05-12. India-Japan naval exercise JAIMEX 2025 took place off Yokosuka from October 16-18, while India-Australia joint military exercise AUSTRAHIND took place near Perth from October 13-26.
China’s 48th escort mission for the Gulf of Aden sailed from Qingdao on October 11.
These and other developments are covered in this Indo-Pacific Monitor Vol. VI, Issue 10. To read about them, please see the PDF attached.
