Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 5th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM) Plus meet in Singapore on October 20, 2018 which is a forum for Defence Ministers from ten ASEAN and eight ASEAN Plus countries and the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN. The theme of this year’s dialogue was ‘Strengthening Cooperation, Building Resilience’. The dialogue adopted two resolutions on ‘Countering the Threat of Terrorism’ and ‘Practical Confidence Building Measures’.

She addressed the meeting, excerpts of which are given below.

Terrorism. Emphasised India’s concern on the grave challenges to international peace and stability due to the threat of terrorism. She also highlighted that the continued presence of terrorist infrastructure and support to terrorists in the immediate neighbourhood constantly tested India’s patience.

Indo-Pacific. Reiterated India’s view on Indo-Pacific, as an open, balanced region, connected by open and secure seas, integrated by balanced trade and shaped by a rules-based order, anchored in ASEAN centrality and conveyed India’s commitment to maintain a sustained focus of its ‘Act East’ policy in terms of economic, cultural and developmental engagement of the region.

ADMM as a platform. Complimenting the ADMM Plus for emerging as a credible and effective platform forging practical cooperation among the members of the armed forces, Raksha Mantri informed the partners of India’s active participation in all the ADMM Plus mechanism contributing effectively to their success.

International Order. Emphasised India’s commitment to a rules-based international order that was inclusive and democratic.

On the side-lines of the ADMM Plus meeting, Raksha Mantri also held constructive bilateral discussions with the Defence Ministers of several countries present.