Rajnath Singh holds defence talks with Philippines, South Korea at ADMM-Plus in Cebu
Synopsis
Rajnath Singh conducted five bilateral defence meetings in a single day at the 13th ADMM-Plus in Cebu — with the Philippines, South Korea, the US, Japan, and Australia. The blitz of diplomacy, anchored by a strong India-US counter-terrorism message and new co-development talks with Seoul, signals India's most active Indo-Pacific defence push in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held five bilateral meetings at the 13th ADMM-Plus in Cebu, Philippines on 28 October 2026 .
Talks with Philippines Secretary Gilberto C Teodoro Jr centred on maritime security and joint defence production .
South Korean Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul and Singh discussed co-development of military technologies and Indo-Pacific security.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington's full support to India on cross-border terrorism ; both nations reviewed the India-US Major Defence Partnership .
Singh also met Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles to advance bilateral defence ties.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Cebu, Philippines, engaging counterparts from the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, the United States, and Australia — underscoring India's deepening strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific.
India-Philippines Defence Talks
Singh met Philippines Secretary of National Defence Gilberto C Teodoro Jr, with both sides reviewing ongoing defence cooperation and discussing expanded collaboration on maritime security and joint defence production. 'India remains committed to fostering a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,' Singh posted on X following the meeting. The bilateral comes at a time when the Philippines is facing heightened tensions in the South China Sea, making India's strategic engagement particularly significant.
Bilateral with South Korea on Co-development
Singh also met South Korean Minister of National Defence Kang Shin-chul, focusing on co-development of military technologies and strengthening regional security in the Indo-Pacific. 'We reviewed our expanding bilateral defence cooperation and discussed ways to co-develop military technologies and strengthen regional security in the Indo-Pacific,' Singh stated. This marks a notable step-up from earlier exchanges, with both nations exploring concrete co-production pathways.
India-US Defence Partnership Reviewed
A key engagement on the day was Singh's meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, which the Ministry of Defence described as a 'vital opportunity' to assess progress under the India-US Major Defence Partnership. Both sides reviewed their foundational security agreements and identified fresh avenues to accelerate operational readiness, technology sharing, and defence industrial integration. Notably, Hegseth reaffirmed Washington's 'unwavering solidarity and full support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism,' while Singh called on the global community to maintain a 'zero-tolerance approach towards nations that support, train, or fund terrorist organisations,' according to a Ministry of Defence statement.
Japan and Australia Meetings
Earlier in the day, Singh met Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, with both sides welcoming steady progress in bilateral defence cooperation since their August meeting. Singh also held talks with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, discussing bilateral defence cooperation, military interoperability, and regional security. 'India places great value on its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific,' Singh said after the meeting.
What This Signals for India's Indo-Pacific Strategy
The five bilateral engagements in a single day at the 13th ADMM-Plus reflect India's accelerating defence diplomacy across the Indo-Pacific arc. This comes amid a broader pattern of India strengthening defence ties with Quad partners and ASEAN members simultaneously — balancing strategic autonomy with deeper interoperability. The outcomes of these meetings are expected to feed into upcoming bilateral defence cooperation frameworks and joint exercise calendars.
Point of View
Engaging Quad partners and ASEAN frontline states simultaneously. The explicit US endorsement of India's fight against cross-border terrorism, delivered publicly at a multilateral forum, carries political weight beyond the bilateral — it is a signal directed as much at Islamabad as at Washington's allies. The co-development framing with Seoul is also worth watching: if India can translate ADMM-Plus sideline pledges into actual joint production programmes, it would mark a genuine shift from arms-buyer to technology partner in the region.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the ADMM-Plus meeting in Cebu on 28 October 2026?
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held five bilateral meetings at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Cebu, Philippines, on 28 October 2026, engaging counterparts from the Philippines, South Korea, the United States, Japan, and Australia. The talks covered maritime security, military co-development, counter-terrorism, and Indo-Pacific stability.
What did India and the US discuss at the ADMM-Plus sidelines?
Singh and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reviewed progress under the India-US Major Defence Partnership, focusing on operational readiness, technology sharing, and defence industrial integration. Hegseth reaffirmed US support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism, while Singh called for global zero-tolerance towards nations that sponsor terror.
What is the significance of India's talks with the Philippines and South Korea?
The meeting with the Philippines focused on maritime security — a sensitive area given Manila's ongoing South China Sea tensions — and joint defence production. With South Korea, the emphasis was on co-developing military technologies, signalling India's shift from a defence buyer to a potential co-production partner in the Indo-Pacific.
What is the ADMM-Plus meeting?
The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) is a multilateral forum that brings together defence ministers from the ten ASEAN nations and eight dialogue partners, including India, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The 13th edition was held in Cebu, Philippines, in October 2026.
What was discussed between Rajnath Singh and Australia's Richard Marles?
Singh met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles to review bilateral defence cooperation under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with discussions covering military interoperability and shared approaches to regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
