Rajnath Singh Says India Ready to Share Counter-Terrorism Experience at ADMM-Plus

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India was fully prepared to share its practical and “battle-tested” counter-terrorism experience with partner countries while addressing the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines.

Singh said deeper cooperation through joint military exercises, capacity-building programmes and intelligence sharing could strengthen the collective ability of participating countries to tackle security threats.

The 13th ADMM-Plus is being hosted by the Philippines on October 28 and 29, with India participating as one of ASEAN’s dialogue partners.

India Ready to Share Counter-Terrorism Experience

During his address, Singh said:

“India is fully prepared to share its practical and battle-tested counter-terrorism experiences with its ADMM-Plus partners.”

He called for stronger operational cooperation among participating countries through military exercises, institutional capacity building and robust intelligence exchange.

India is currently co-chairing the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024–2027 cycle, reflecting New Delhi’s active role in regional counter-terror cooperation.

Singh Backs Secure and Resilient Indo-Pacific

The Defence Minister said India supported an Indo-Pacific that was secure and resilient, with peace and stability emerging from collective efforts rather than remaining only aspirations.

India has repeatedly stressed ASEAN centrality and regional stability as key elements of its Act East Policy and broader Indo-Pacific engagement.

Maritime Law and Freedom of Navigation Highlighted

Singh also emphasised India’s commitment to international maritime law.

He said India not only supported international maritime rules but also adhered to them in practice, particularly in matters relating to maritime security.

The Defence Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to freedom of navigation and protection of global Sea Lines of Communication, which are vital for international trade and economic security.

ADMM-Plus Focuses on Regional Security

The ADMM-Plus brings together ASEAN countries and eight dialogue partners, including India, the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The forum serves as a major platform for defence and security cooperation and addresses issues including counter-terrorism, maritime security, disaster management and other regional challenges.

Rajnath Singh Holds Bilateral Defence Talks

Alongside the multilateral meeting, Singh is also holding bilateral meetings with defence ministers from participating countries.

He met South Korean Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul on Wednesday, with both sides discussing military technology collaboration and Indo-Pacific security cooperation.

The Rajnath Singh ADMM-Plus address highlighted India’s focus on stronger security partnerships, intelligence cooperation, counter-terrorism and maritime stability across the Indo-Pacific.