India Steps Up Defence Ties at ADMM-Plus in Cebu, Philippines

India is set to expand its defence engagement in Southeast Asia as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh begins a three-day visit to the Philippines. He arrived in Cebu on Tuesday and will attend the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus, along with several bilateral meetings.

News of the visit was officially posted on social media by the Defence Ministry. Singh had departed New Delhi on the same day.

As head of the Indian delegation, Singh will take part in the two-day meeting on October 28 and 29. India plans to put forward its perspective on regional and international security challenges.

Describing the purpose of the trip, the minister said India is working to strengthen regional security cooperation under the Act East Policy. He stressed India's support for ASEAN's central role and for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

He noted that bilateral discussions with counterparts from participating nations would review existing defence ties. These talks, he said, could also identify fresh avenues to strengthen strategic partnerships.

The ADMM is ASEAN's highest mechanism for defence consultation and cooperation. The ADMM-Plus includes ten ASEAN members along with dialogue partners such as India, the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

India became an ASEAN dialogue partner in 1992. The first ADMM-Plus meeting took place in Hanoi on October 12, 2010. Since 2017, defence ministers have met annually to discuss regional defence cooperation.

The Philippines is chairing the ADMM-Plus in 2026. India, alongside Malaysia, co-chairs the Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for 2024-2027.

India's participation highlights its commitment to strengthening defence and strategic ties with Southeast Asian countries and deepening regional cooperation under its Act East Policy.