ASEAN Defence Ministers to Convene on Counter-Terrorism in New Delhi
In a significant gathering aimed at enhancing regional peace and security, the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism (CT) is set to take place in New Delhi from January 14 to 16, 2026. Co-chaired by India and Malaysia, the meeting will bring together delegations from 11 ASEAN member states and seven dialogue partners, signaling a strong commitment to collaborative counter-terrorism efforts.
The participating ASEAN countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor Leste. They will be joined by representatives from dialogue partners such as Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, the USA, and Russia, along with officials from the ASEAN Secretariat. This meeting marks the third session in the current cycle spanning from 2024 to 2027.
The agenda will focus on reviewing the progress achieved since the last session and discussing ongoing and planned initiatives under a comprehensive three-year work plan aimed at bolstering India’s multilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism within the ADMM-Plus framework.
On January 14, the event will kick off with the Final Planning Conference for a Table Top Exercise, a preparatory action for upcoming simulations aimed at testing and enhancing cooperative strategies. Notably, Malaysia is set to host a Table Top Exercise during the subsequent EWG meeting in 2026, while India will conduct a Field Training Exercise in 2027.
The ADMM-Plus serves as a crucial platform for practical collaboration among the defense establishments of member countries. Currently, it emphasizes cooperation in seven key areas: maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian mine action, and cyber security. To facilitate progress in these areas, Experts Working Groups have been established, enabling deeper collaboration and information sharing.
The roles of the co-chairs are critical, as they will outline the objectives, policy guidelines, and strategy for the EWG over the three-year cycle. Each year will see a minimum of two EWG meetings, with the third-year culminating in a significant exercise, such as a Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercise (FTX), or Staff Exercise (STAFFEX), assessing the advancements in practical cooperation during the cycle. This systematic approach is designed to ensure that member nations can effectively collaborate and respond to evolving security challenges.
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