New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead the Indian delegation at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, from October 28 to 29, 2026, as India seeks to deepen defence cooperation and strategic engagement with Southeast Asian nations and their dialogue partners.
According to the Ministry of Defence, Singh will address the forum during a session titled “Exchange of Views on Regional and International Security Issues.” He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with defence counterparts from participating countries to review existing cooperation and explore opportunities to strengthen strategic partnerships.
The engagement forms part of India’s broader defence diplomacy under its Act East policy, which seeks to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia and contribute to regional peace and stability.
Bilateral Meetings to Focus on Defence Partnerships
On the sidelines of the summit, Singh will meet his counterparts from participating countries to discuss ongoing defence relations and areas for further cooperation.
The discussions are expected to provide an opportunity to review existing partnerships and explore ways to strengthen defence engagement. The Ministry of Defence has yet to specify the individual countries with which bilateral meetings are scheduled.
What Is ADMM-Plus?
The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus is a regional platform for defence dialogue and cooperation involving ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners, including India.
The forum brings together defence ministers to discuss security challenges and strengthen practical cooperation across the region.
The 11 ASEAN member states are:
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- the Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
The eight dialogue partners are:
- India
- Australia
- China
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Russia
- South Korea
- the United States
The ADMM is ASEAN’s highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism, while ADMM-Plus extends defence dialogue and cooperation to its external partners.
India’s Role in the Regional Security Forum
India became an ASEAN dialogue partner in 1992. The inaugural ADMM-Plus meeting was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on October 12, 2010.
Since 2017, defence ministers from ASEAN and the eight dialogue partners have met annually to strengthen cooperation and address shared security concerns.
The Philippines is chairing ADMM-Plus in 2026, with the Cebu meeting providing a platform for discussions on regional and international security issues.
India and Malaysia Co-Chair Counter-Terrorism Working Group
India is also participating in the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, which it co-chairs with Malaysia for the 2024–2027 cycle.
The working group provides a framework for cooperation on counter-terrorism among participating countries.
India’s participation in the wider ADMM-Plus process reflects its continued engagement with regional defence mechanisms under the Act East policy. The policy seeks to expand India’s relations with Southeast Asian countries through diplomatic, economic and strategic cooperation.
Singh’s participation in the October 28–29 meeting will provide an opportunity to engage with regional counterparts on security concerns and the future direction of defence partnerships.
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