Rajnath Singh Leads Indian Delegation to ADMM-Plus in Philippines

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh departed New Delhi on October 27, 2026, for Cebu, Philippines, to lead the Indian delegation at the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus. Scheduled for October 28 to 29, the forum serves as a platform for ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners, including India, the United States, China, and Russia, to strengthen security and defence cooperation.

Singh is scheduled to address the forum on regional and international security issues and conduct bilateral meetings with counterparts to review existing defence ties and explore new strategic partnerships. The engagement aligns with India's Act East policy and the MAHASAGAR vision for maritime cooperation, emphasizing ASEAN centrality and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Philippines is chairing the 2026 ADMM-Plus. In preparation for the event, Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish arrived at Subic Bay for Joint Cooperation Activity. Additionally, India continues to co-chair the Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024-2027 cycle.