The 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism will take place in New Delhi from March 19-20, 2025, with India and Malaysia co-chairing the discussions.
Delegations from 10 ASEAN member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand—along with eight dialogue partners—Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, China, the USA, and Russia—will participate. Representatives from Timor-Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat will also be in attendance.
This marks the first time India will co-chair the EWG on Counter-Terrorism. Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh is set to deliver the keynote address during the opening ceremony on March 19. The meeting will focus on strengthening strategies to counter evolving terrorism threats and extremism, shaping the framework for future exercises, workshops, and discussions planned for the 2024-2027 cycle.
The ADMM-Plus serves as a key platform for defense cooperation among participating nations, addressing seven core areas: Counter-Terrorism, Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management, Peacekeeping Operations, Military Medicine, Humanitarian Mine Action, and Cyber Security. Each EWG operates under a three-year cycle, with co-chairs guiding objectives, policy directions, and overseeing joint exercises to enhance practical collaboration.
The upcoming meeting will establish the groundwork for future counter-terrorism initiatives, reinforcing the commitment of ASEAN nations and their partners to regional security and stability.
