Singapore joined ASEAN Defence Ministers in reaffirming regional unity and advancing new cooperation initiatives at the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Malaysia.
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 October 2025 – Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing attended the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today. The meeting underscored ASEAN’s shared commitment to preserving regional peace, strengthening defence cooperation, and enhancing resilience amid evolving security challenges.
During the meeting, Ministers adopted the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity, reaffirming ASEAN’s collective resolve to deepen defence cooperation. They also endorsed the Joint Statement on the Implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Strategic Plan of ASEAN Vision 2045, emphasising the defence sector’s role in advancing long-term regional objectives and practical cooperation under ASEAN-led frameworks.
Image by: Singapore Ministry of Defence
The Ministers approved a series of initiatives to ensure the ADMM and ADMM-Plus mechanisms remain effective and forward-looking. These included the Concept Paper on Critical Underwater Infrastructure Security, co-sponsored by Brunei, Singapore, and Thailand, outlining guiding principles for cooperation in safeguarding underwater assets. They also adopted the Third Additional Protocol to the ADMM and ADMM-Plus Concept Papers, strengthening the Enhanced Observership Programme and updating the Experts’ Working Group structure.
On the sidelines, Mr Chan met his counterparts from ASEAN Member States, China, India, and other partners. At the ASEAN-China Defence Ministers’ Luncheon, he emphasised the importance of trust-building and cooperation, noting that “how we overcome our challenges together will define our future”. At the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting, he welcomed continued dialogue and joint activities, highlighting India’s role in contributing to regional peace and calling for deeper people-to-people exchanges, especially among younger officers.
Image by: Singapore Ministry of Defence
Mr Chan will attend the 12th ADMM-Plus tomorrow, where Defence Ministers from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States will join ASEAN counterparts to further strengthen regional defence cooperation.
Source: Singapore Ministry of Defence
