What happened:
On January 14, 2026, India hosted the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group on Counter Terrorism in Delhi, co-chaired with Malaysia. The meeting brought together ASEAN member states, ADMM-Plus partners, and the ASEAN Secretariat, reaffirming a shared commitment to counter terrorism. Senior officials highlighted ASEAN’s centrality to India’s Act East Policy and outlined a roadmap of seminars, workshops, and joint exercises for 2026–27.
Why it matters to India:
The meeting strengthens India’s role as a regional security partner, deepens defence cooperation with ASEAN, and enhances interoperability and trust in counter-terrorism efforts. It also reinforces India’s strategic commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific under the Act East Policy.