India Steps Up Defence Ties at ADMM-Plus Meeting in Cebu
New Delhi, October 26: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will head the Indian delegation at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus, or ADMM-Plus. The meeting will be held in Cebu, Philippines, on October 28 and 29, and India is expected to play a visible role in discussions on terrorism.
India is not only a participant in this forum but also an active partner in efforts to expand counter-terrorism cooperation. For the 2024 to 2027 period, India and Malaysia are jointly chairing the Expert Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
The Cebu gathering will address important regional and international security concerns. Singh will put forward India's stance on these challenges. Alongside this, he will hold bilateral discussions with defence ministers from several countries to strengthen defence relations.
The meeting carries added weight because of its membership. The 11 ASEAN member countries will be joined by India, the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The format allows these countries to discuss defence and security issues directly with one another.
During the meeting, Singh will address a session on the exchange of views on regional and international security issues. He will also meet his counterparts from participating nations. The discussions are expected to assess current defence cooperation and suggest ways to deepen strategic partnerships.
The ADMM-Plus is the leading platform for regional defence collaboration in its expanded form. The first meeting was held on October 12, 2010, in Hanoi, Vietnam. India became an ASEAN dialogue partner in 1992. Since 2017, the forum's defence ministers have held annual meetings to keep cooperation between members and partners moving forward.
The Philippines is serving as chair of the forum in 2026. India's involvement reflects its Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen defence relations with Southeast Asian countries. Under this approach, India stresses cooperation with regional nations and the promotion of peace, stability and shared development.
Defence observers believe the Cebu meeting will give India a chance to share its views on regional security and take forward its defence partnerships.