The upcoming meeting will initiate activities for the 2024-2027 EWG cycle, focusing on creating a robust strategy against terrorism and extremism. It will facilitate discussions among ASEAN defense forces and dialogue partners, aimed at sharing experiences and laying groundwork for future exercises and workshops. Attendees will include delegates from 10 ASEAN countries, eight dialogue partners, and representatives from Timor Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat. The ADMM-Plus platform promotes practical cooperation in areas like Counter-Terrorism and Cyber Security. Since its establishment in 2010, the ADMM-Plus has aimed to enhance regional security amidst growing challenges.
This gathering will represent the initial set of activities outlined for the 2024-2027 EWG cycle. The discussions will center on formulating a robust and comprehensive strategy to address the escalating threats posed by terrorism and extremism. The meeting aims to create a platform for ASEAN defense forces and dialogue partners to exchange their on-ground experiences. It will also lay the groundwork for forthcoming activities, exercises, seminars, and workshops planned for the three-year cycle.
Delegates from 10 ASEAN nations—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 be present. Representatives from Timor Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat will also join.
The ADMM-Plus serves as a framework for practical collaboration among the defense establishments of ASEAN and its dialogue partners. The current focus areas encompass Counter-Terrorism, Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management, Peacekeeping Operations, Military Medicine, Humanitarian Mine Action, and Cyber Security. The EWGs have been established to promote cooperation in these fields. Each EWG is co-chaired by an ASEAN member and a dialogue partner for a duration of three years.
In their role, the co-chairs are responsible for defining the objectives, policies, and direction for the EWG at the beginning of their term. They must conduct a minimum of two meetings each year and arrange an exercise in the third year—such as a table-top, field training, staff, or communication exercise—to assess the progress in practical collaboration.
The ADMM-Plus, which was founded in 2010 in Ha Noi, Vietnam, acts as a platform for ASEAN and its dialogue partners—Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States—to bolster regional security, stability, and development. Since 2017, the ADMM-Plus has convened annually to enhance cooperation in response to increasing security challenges in the region.
ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was established in August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Over the years, it has expanded to include Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia, resulting in a 10-member bloc today.
The forthcoming meeting in New Delhi is anticipated to be pivotal in formulating strategies to address terrorism and strengthen defense cooperation among ASEAN and its partners.