Jakarta, Indonesia: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, in an official visit to Jakarta from November 16 to 17, 2023, attended the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). The meeting, hosted by Indonesia as the chair of ADMM-Plus, focused on regional and international security issues. On November 16, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh addressed the forum, reflecting on the mutual concerns of the participating nations.
On the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus, Rajnath Singh engaged in bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of the participating countries. The discussions aimed at reinforcing defence cooperation and enhancing mutually-beneficial engagements.
The ADMM, serving as the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN, provides a platform for ASEAN member states and its eight Dialogue Partners, including India, to strengthen security and defence cooperation. India, a dialogue partner since 1992, actively participates in the ADMM-Plus, which has been convening annually since 2017.
During the 10th ADMM-Plus, practical cooperation among member countries was emphasized through seven Experts Working Groups (EWGs), covering areas such as Maritime Security, Military Medicine, Cyber Security, Peacekeeping Operations, Counter Terrorism, Humanitarian Mine Action, and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR). The next set of co-chairs for the cycle 2024-2027 was also announced, with India currently co-chairing the EWG on HADR along with Indonesia in the present cycle from 2021-2024.