The 14th meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism is set to take place in New Delhi from March 19 to 20, 2025. India and Malaysia will co-chair the meeting, marking India’s first time leading the counter-terrorism group.
Delegations from the 10 ASEAN member countries — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand — along with eight dialogue partners including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, China, the United States, and Russia will attend. Timor Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat are also participating.
This meeting marks the beginning of the 2024-2027 cycle of activities under the Counter-Terrorism EWG. The focus will be on formulating a comprehensive strategy to address the evolving threats of terrorism and extremism. Member nations will share their Defence Forces’ experiences in counter-terrorism efforts, laying the groundwork for a series of exercises, seminars, and workshops planned over the next three years.
The ADMM-Plus is a key platform for fostering practical defence cooperation among ASEAN nations and their dialogue partners. It currently concentrates on seven priority areas: Counter-Terrorism, Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Peacekeeping Operations, Military Medicine, Humanitarian Mine Action, and Cyber Security.
Each of these areas is managed through dedicated Experts Working Groups (EWGs), co-chaired by one ASEAN country and one dialogue partner for a three-year cycle. The co-chairs are responsible for setting objectives, policy guidelines, and organising at least two meetings annually, along with a final exercise in the third year to test the progress made.
