India’s Defence Minister recently participated in the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus, marking the 10th anniversary of the crucial forum. This online event was hosted by Hanoi, Vietnam.
Understanding the ADMM Plus
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), established to promote political and social stability among Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states, spearheads this meeting. The ADMM Plus came into existence in 2007 when the 2nd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore resolved to establish it. The inaugural assembly took place in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2010.
Purpose of the ADMM Plus
The ADMM Plus serves as a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners to enhance security and defense cooperation, thereby fostering peace, stability, and development in the region.
Members of the ADMM Plus
This association includes ten ASEAN Member States and eight Plus countries: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and the United States.
Chairmanship Details
The chairmanship of the ADMM Plus is rotated along with the chairmanship of the ADMM. This year, Vietnam held the chair.
Goals of the ADMM Plus
This body aims to reinforce mutual trust and confidence among defense establishments by promoting dialogue and transparency.
Focus Areas
Primary areas of cooperation include maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine. The importance and relevance of this meeting have been underscored by the ongoing India-China military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, and escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
India’s Position
At the recent meeting, India relayed key perspectives. It opined that the future of South East Asian nations would be shaped by their collective response to regional challenges, founded on the principles of freedom, inclusivity, and openness.
Further, India stressed that the reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic must be collective and collaborative.
Addressing the prevalent challenges, India flagged threats to the rules-based order, maritime security, cyber-related crimes, and terrorism, noting that these issues were increasingly becoming trans-boundary, necessitating enhanced military-to-military interactions and cooperation among the ADMM Plus members.
Tools for Cooperation
Field training exercises and table-top exercises among the ADMM Plus countries are deemed vital tools for mutual understanding and cooperation to enhance regional security and maintain peace. An example of such collaboration is ‘MAITREE’, an annual training event conducted alternately in India and Thailand since 2006.