Rajnath Singh at 13th ADMM-Plus in Philippines for Indo-Pacific security talks
Synopsis
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has touched down in Cebu for the 13th ADMM-Plus — the highest defence consultative forum in ASEAN — where India will lead the delegation and co-chair the Counter-Terrorism working group with Malaysia. With the Philippines holding the 2026 chair and all major Indo-Pacific powers in the room, Singh's bilateral sideline meetings could shape the next phase of India's Act East defence partnerships.
Key Takeaways
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Cebu, Philippines , on 27 October 2026 for a three-day visit .
He will lead India's delegation at the 13th ADMM-Plus on 28 and 29 October , addressing regional and international security issues.
The ADMM-Plus includes 11 ASEAN member states and 8 Dialogue Partners , including India, the US, China, and Russia.
India is co-chairing the Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024–2027 cycle.
The Philippines chairs the ADMM-Plus in 2026 ; India has been an ASEAN Dialogue Partner since 1992 .
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Cebu, Philippines, on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, kicking off a three-day visit during which he will lead the Indian delegation at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) and hold several bilateral meetings with counterpart defence ministers on the sidelines.
Visit Overview and Agenda
Singh departed New Delhi earlier on Tuesday and will represent India at the two-day forum on 28 and 29 October. He is expected to address the gathering on shared regional and international security concerns. The Defence Minister's office confirmed his arrival in an official post on X (formerly Twitter).
In a post shared ahead of his engagements, Singh stated: 'During my visit, I will also be holding several bilateral meetings with my counterparts from participating nations. These interactions will be a great opportunity to review our ongoing defence ties and explore new avenues to strengthen our strategic partnerships.'
India's Commitment to Act East Policy
Singh underscored that India remained committed to strengthening regional security cooperation, promoting ASEAN centrality, and ensuring peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region — consistent with its Act East Policy. The bilateral meetings on the sidelines are expected to cover a range of defence and strategic partnership issues with multiple participating nations.
What is the ADMM-Plus
According to the Ministry of Defence, the ADMM-Plus is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism within ASEAN. The forum brings together the 11 ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam — and eight Dialogue Partners: India, the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
India became a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1992, and the inaugural ADMM-Plus meeting was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 12 October 2010. Since 2017, defence ministers have met annually under this framework to deepen cooperation between ASEAN states and partner countries.
India's Role and Co-Chairmanship
The Philippines holds the chair of the ADMM-Plus in 2026. India is additionally co-chairing the Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024–2027 cycle — a role that underscores New Delhi's growing stake in shaping the forum's security agenda. This comes amid heightened strategic interest in the Indo-Pacific, with maritime security, counterterrorism, and multilateral defence interoperability dominating discussions across regional forums.
Singh's visit marks continued Indian engagement at the highest defence-diplomatic level in Southeast Asia, and outcomes from his bilateral meetings are expected to be closely watched for signals on India's evolving partnerships in the region.
Point of View
China, and Russia all sit. The counter-terrorism co-chairmanship with Malaysia signals a bid for agenda-setting influence rather than passive participation. Yet the real measure will be which bilateral meetings yield deliverables: framework agreements, joint exercises, or defence technology sharing. In an Indo-Pacific increasingly defined by competing alignments, India's ability to stay credibly engaged on multiple tracks simultaneously — Quad, ADMM-Plus, bilateral — will determine whether Act East graduates from rhetoric to strategic architecture.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rajnath Singh visiting the Philippines in October 2026?
Singh is in Cebu from 27 to 29 October 2026 to attend the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), the highest defence consultative forum in ASEAN, and to hold bilateral meetings with counterpart defence ministers. The visit is part of India's ongoing engagement under its Act East Policy.
What is the ADMM-Plus and why does it matter for India?
The ADMM-Plus is the highest defence cooperative mechanism within ASEAN, bringing together 11 member states and 8 Dialogue Partners including India, the US, China, and Russia. For India, it is a key platform to advance regional security cooperation, promote Indo-Pacific stability, and deepen strategic ties with Southeast Asian nations.
What specific role does India play in the ADMM-Plus framework?
India is co-chairing the Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism alongside Malaysia for the 2024–2027 cycle, giving it a direct role in shaping the forum's counter-terrorism agenda. India has been an ASEAN Dialogue Partner since 1992.
Who chairs the ADMM-Plus in 2026?
The Philippines holds the chair of the ADMM-Plus in 2026. The forum has met annually since 2017, following the inaugural meeting held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 12 October 2010.
What outcomes are expected from Singh's bilateral meetings in Cebu?
Singh indicated he will review ongoing defence ties and explore new avenues for strategic partnerships with counterparts from participating nations. Specific outcomes — such as framework agreements or joint exercise commitments — are expected to be announced after the bilateral sessions on 28 and 29 October.
