ASEAN defence senior officials met virtually on 26–27 August 2026 to review progress on regional defence initiatives, external engagements and security cooperation. The meetings also paved the way for the upcoming 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting and 13th ADMM-Plus in October.
The ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) and ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting-Plus (ADSOM-Plus) were convened via videoconference on 26–27 August 2026, bringing together senior defence officials from ASEAN Member States and the Plus Countries. The meetings provided a platform to review ongoing defence cooperation and discuss developments relevant to regional security.
Representing the ASEAN Secretariat was H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Political-Security Community. Her participation underscored the Secretariat’s role in supporting ASEAN’s political-security cooperation and facilitating coordination among Member States and external partners.
During the ADSOM, officials reviewed progress in implementing the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Work Programme 2023–2026. Discussions also covered newly proposed initiatives under the ADMM framework, as well as the defence sector’s engagement with external partners, reflecting ASEAN’s continued efforts to strengthen practical cooperation.
The ADSOM-Plus focused on developments under the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups, while officials exchanged views on regional security issues and recent developments across ASEAN. The discussions highlighted the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation in addressing evolving security challenges in the region.
The meetings also addressed preparations for the upcoming 20th ADMM and 13th ADMM-Plus, scheduled to take place in October. The forthcoming ministerial meetings are expected to build on the progress made by senior officials and further advance ASEAN’s defence cooperation and engagement with its partners.
Source: ASEAN
