The 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism, co-chaired by India and Malaysia, was hosted by India in New Delhi on Wednesday, where all regional players vowed to cooperate in strengthening regional security.
Addressing the meeting, Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, said India is privileged to co-chair the initiative alongside Malaysia, and the participation of representatives from ASEAN member states, the ADMM-Plus countries and the ASEAN Secretariat underscored a shared resolve to strengthen regional and international cooperation against terrorism.
“India’s relationship with ASEAN remains a key pillar of its foreign policy and lies at the core of the Act East Policy, launched in 2014 at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit,” he said, adding that last year, India marked a decade of the Act East Policy.
The meeting of 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism (CT) and Final Planning Conference for Table Top Exercise is scheduled from January 14 to 16, as per a statement by the Ministry of Defence.
Delegations from 11 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste) and 7 dialogue partners (Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, China, USA and Russia) along with ASEAN Secretariat representatives will participate in the EWG on CT. This will be the third meeting for the ongoing cycle from 2024-2027.
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From India’s perspective, Prasad described the co-chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism with Malaysia as a “pivotal moment in strengthening regional security cooperation”.
“The country brings hard-earned operational and institutional expertise to the platform, with a focus on proactive defence collaboration,” he said, adding that in the 14th EWG meeting held last year in Delhi, India’s Defence Secretary had outlined an ambitious roadmap that includes a series of seminars and workshops, a tabletop exercise to be hosted by Malaysia in 2026, and a field training exercise to be conducted by India in 2027.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Ammir Haron, Head of Delegation from Malaysia, said that they expected to carry forward their agenda on counter terrorism to ensure peace across the region, and not just in any particular country.
“We have full participation from ADMM plus and ASEAN countries, and we hope to move forward our agenda on counter terrorism. We work across the globe to help ensure peace and stability across the region, not towards any particular country,” he said.
Malaysia will host Table Top Exercise during the next edition of EWG meeting in 2026, and India will subsequently hold Field Training Exercise in 2027.
The ADMM-Plus serves as a platform for practical cooperation among the participating countries’ defence establishments, focusing on maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian mine action and cyber security.
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