New Delhi will host the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism from March 19 to 20. India and Malaysia will jointly co-chair this high-level meeting, bringing together delegations from 10 ASEAN member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand—along with eight dialogue partners: Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, China, the United States, and Russia. Additionally, representatives from Timor-Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat will also participate.
For the first time, India will co-chair the EWG on Counter-Terrorism. The meeting will commence on March 19 with a keynote address by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, according to the Defence Ministry.
The ADMM-Plus serves as a key platform for fostering cooperation among the defence establishments of participating nations. It currently focuses on seven areas of practical collaboration: counter-terrorism, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian mine action, and cybersecurity.
This year’s meeting aims to facilitate the exchange of operational insights and best practices among the defence forces of ASEAN and its dialogue partners. It will set the agenda for upcoming activities, exercises, seminars, and workshops over the next three years. A central focus will be developing a robust, comprehensive strategy to combat the evolving threats of terrorism and extremism.
As co-chairs, India and Malaysia will outline policy objectives, set strategic guidelines, and oversee the EWG’s progress through regular meetings. The three-year chairmanship will culminate in a multinational counter-terrorism exercise, assessing the advancements made in practical cooperation.
Team BharatShakti
