Philippines Concludes 2026 Defence Chairship as Singapore Prepares to Assume Leadership in 2027.
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn received copies of the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Joint Declaration and the 13th ADMM-Plus Joint Statement following the conclusion of the meetings in Cebu, the Philippines. The documents marked the completion of the Philippines’ 2026 chairship of the ASEAN defence sector and the transition of leadership to the Republic of Singapore for 2027.
The handover followed the successful convening of the 20th ADMM, the 13th ADMM-Plus and their related meetings in Cebu. The gatherings provided the framework for ASEAN Defence Ministers and their counterparts to engage in discussions on regional defence matters and cooperation.
The 20th ADMM and 13th ADMM-Plus were key meetings within ASEAN’s defence cooperation framework. The ADMM serves as the highest ministerial-level defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN, while the ADMM-Plus provides a platform for ASEAN Member States and dialogue partners to discuss regional security and defence issues.
Following the meetings, Dr Kao received the two official documents, which recorded the outcomes of the respective ministerial engagements. The 20th ADMM Joint Declaration reflected the outcomes of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ meeting, while the 13th ADMM-Plus Joint Statement documented the discussions and conclusions of the expanded defence ministers’ meeting.
The receipt of the documents also signalled the conclusion of the Philippines’ chairship responsibilities for the ASEAN defence sector in 2026. The Philippines had hosted the meetings in Cebu as part of its role in leading the sector during the year.
The Republic of Singapore was set to assume the ASEAN defence sector chairship in 2027, succeeding the Philippines. The transition would see Singapore take on the responsibility of chairing the relevant defence meetings and facilitating continued engagement among ASEAN Member States and ADMM-Plus participants.
The handover of the joint declaration and statement to the ASEAN Secretary-General provided an official record of the meetings’ outcomes as ASEAN prepared for the next phase of its defence cooperation agenda under Singapore’s 2027 chairship.
Source: ASEAN
