Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday described the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) as the “cornerstone of peace, stability and cooperation” in the Indo-Pacific, as the 18-nation platform marked its 15th anniversary, highlighting India’s commitment to an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional order.
Addressing the milestone meeting, held under Malaysia’s chairmanship and themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” Singh noted that the forum, launched in Hanoi in 2010, has evolved from a dialogue platform into a “dynamic framework for practical defence cooperation.”
“India’s security vision for the Indo-Pacific integrates defence cooperation with economic development, technology sharing, and human resource advancement. The interlinkages between security, growth, and sustainability define India’s approach to partnership with ASEAN,” he said.
Highlighting New Delhi’s active role since ADMM-Plus’ inception, the Defence Minister pointed out that India has co-chaired four Expert Working Groups (EWGs): Humanitarian Mine Action with Vietnam (2014-2017), Military Medicine with Myanmar (2017-2020), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) with Indonesia (2020-2024), and currently, Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia (2024-2027).
“Exercises such as Force-18, hosted by India under the Humanitarian Mine Action EWG, stand as examples of our commitment to multilateral preparedness and humanitarian response,” Singh added.
He described ADMM-Plus as an essential component of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and broader Indo-Pacific vision, noting that the elevation of ASEAN-India ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022 reflected “growing alignment of regional priorities.”
Reaffirming India’s faith in a rules-based order, Singh emphasized adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the principles of freedom of navigation and overflight, stressing that these rules “are not directed against any country but meant to safeguard collective interests.”
The minister also highlighted emerging domains such as cyber threats, maritime domain awareness, and critical infrastructure protection, noting that non-traditional security cooperation has built trust through joint exercises in HADR and maritime security.
On climate change, Singh said environmental stress and resource scarcity are key security concerns, adding that India’s expertise in disaster risk reduction and early warning systems can strengthen ASEAN’s resilience efforts.
Looking ahead, he stressed that the next phase of ADMM-Plus must adapt to new realities while remaining grounded in trust, inclusivity, and sovereignty. “The future of regional security will depend on managing shared resources, protecting digital and physical infrastructure, and responding collectively to humanitarian crises,” he said.
Pitching India’s new initiative, Singh said New Delhi is ready to deepen cooperation under the spirit of “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions” (MAHASAGAR).
“As ADMM-Plus enters its sixteenth year, India stands ready to promote dialogue over discord and strengthen regional mechanisms that ensure peace and stability,” he said.
Concluding his address, the Defence Minister called for reaffirming the ASEAN-led, inclusive security architecture to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains “a region of peace, stability, and shared prosperity for generations to come.”
