Kuala Lumpur, Oct 31 (NationPress) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Friday, enhancing bilateral relations during the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), which is set to commence on November 1.

This meeting is part of a series of engagements among defence leaders participating in the multilateral security forum.

While specific details of the discussions are yet to be disclosed, it is anticipated that the focus will be on strengthening India-US defence collaboration and addressing regional security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.

Earlier that day, Hegseth met separately with his counterparts from Malaysia and China.

In a post on X, Hegseth shared details about his meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, stating, “Today, I met with China’s Minister of National Defence Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus.

“The meeting was productive, highlighting the significance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. I expressed US concerns regarding China’s activities in the South China Sea, around Taiwan, and towards US allies in the Indo-Pacific.

“The United States aims to avoid conflict while staunchly defending its interests and ensuring its capabilities in the region. This meeting followed our previous videoconference on September 9 with Admiral Dong. We will continue our discussions with the People’s Liberation Army on matters of mutual significance.”

On Thursday, Rajnath Singh arrived in Malaysia for a two-day visit to participate in the ADMM-Plus. He was welcomed at Subang Airbase by India’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy.

The 12th ADMM-Plus will involve discussions among ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners, including India, the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Rajnath Singh is expected to address the forum on the theme 'Reflection on 15 Years of ADMM-Plus and Charting the Way Forward.'

During his visit, Singh will also engage in bilateral meetings with defence ministers and senior leaders from participating nations.

As a dialogue partner of ASEAN since 1992, India has actively contributed to ADMM-Plus since its establishment in 2010. In the current cycle (2024–2027), India and Malaysia serve as co-chairs of the Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. The next ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise is slated for 2026.