The 10th Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), a platform for promoting security and defense cooperation, had the participation of India’s Defence Minister. The meeting took place in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Key Highlights of the Indian Address in ADMM-Plus Meeting
India’s address at the ADMM-Plus meeting focused on several areas:
1. ASEAN Centrality: India acknowledged the importance of ASEAN’s central role and praised its efforts in encouraging dialogue and consensus in the region.
2. Commitment to International Laws: India reiterated its pledge to freedom of navigation, overflight, and lawful commerce in international waters in accordance with international laws, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
3. Regional Security Initiatives: India suggested consultative and development-centered security initiatives that reflect consensus among stakeholders. Its goal was to enhance Maritime Security in the region through practical, forward-looking cooperation within ADMM-Plus.
4. Dialogue and Diplomacy: India underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for lasting peace and global stability. It emphasised the need to move beyond an “us versus them” mindset, asserting that this is not an era of war.
5. Collaborative Initiatives: India valued ASEAN Member States’ participation in joint efforts such as the Initiative for Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations, Initiative for Marine Plastic Pollution Response, ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, and Expert Working Group (EWG) on Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR). India proposed to co-chair the EWG on Counter-Terrorism, a concern endorsed by ADMM-Plus due to the serious threat of terrorism in the ASEAN region.
About ADMM-Plus
Established in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, in 2010, the ADMM-Plus serves as a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners to strengthen security and defense cooperation for peace and stability in the region. It is the highest defense consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN.
The ADMM-Plus meets annually to enhance dialogue and cooperation among ASEAN and the Plus Countries. Its objectives include helping ASEAN Member States build capacity to address shared security challenges, promoting mutual trust and confidence among defense establishments through dialogue and transparency, enhancing regional peace and stability through defense and security cooperation, and facilitating the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme.
Achievements of ADMM-Plus
ADMM-Plus has become an essential platform for practical cooperation among the participating countries’ defense establishments. It currently focuses on seven areas of practical cooperation: maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster management, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian mine action, and cybersecurity.
Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs), co-chaired by one ASEAN Member States and one Plus Country, have been established to facilitate cooperation in these areas over a three-year cycle. From 2021 to 2024, India is co-chairing EWG on HADR along with Indonesia.
UPSC Civil Services Examination: Question Relation to ASEAN
In relation to ASEAN’s role, a previous year’s question was asked in the UPSC Civil Services Examination which required examinees to identify ASEAN’s free-trade partners among a selection of countries, underlining the importance of understanding ASEAN’s global connections and influence.
