What happened
On November 1, 2025 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) as the “cornerstone of peace, stability and cooperation” in the Indo-Pacific as the 18-member forum completed 15 years. Addressing the meeting in Kuala Lumpur under Malaysia’s chairmanship, themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, Singh underlined India’s commitment to an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional order. He said ADMM-Plus had evolved from a dialogue mechanism into a “dynamic framework for practical defence cooperation,” integrating security with economic and technological collaboration.
Why it matters to India
The meeting reaffirmed ADMM-Plus as a central pillar of India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. Singh highlighted India’s consistent role through leadership in four Expert Working Groups (EWGs) — Humanitarian Mine Action, Military Medicine, HADR, and Counter-Terrorism — demonstrating its long-term commitment to regional stability. Stressing adherence to UNCLOS and freedom of navigation, Singh reiterated India’s support for ASEAN-led frameworks and collective responses to non-traditional security threats, from cyber challenges to climate-induced risks. Looking ahead, Singh introduced India’s new initiative — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions (MAHASAGAR) — aimed at enhancing cooperation in emerging domains. He concluded by calling for renewed commitment to ASEAN’s inclusive security architecture to ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains “a region of peace, stability, and shared prosperity.”