CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
The 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT) was recently held in New Delhi, India. This meeting brought together representatives from ASEAN member states and partner nations to enhance regional counter-terrorism cooperation, share best practices, and plan joint exercises.
About ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization that promotes political, economic, and security cooperation among its member states. Established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, ASEAN was founded with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Key Facts About ASEAN
Motto: "One Vision, One Identity, One Community."
Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
Objective: To foster economic growth, social progress, cultural development, peace, and stability in the Southeast Asian region.
Member States (10 Nations)
Founding Members (1967) - Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
Later Additions - Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos & Myanmar (1997), Cambodia (1999)
Economic and Demographic Overview:
Total Population: 662 million (as of 2022)
Combined GDP: $3.2 trillion (2022)
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC): Established to create a single market and production base, improving economic integration among member states.
ASEAN’s Institutional Structure
ASEAN Summit - Held annually, bringing together heads of state and government to discuss key regional and international issues. The chairmanship rotates among member states each year.
ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) - Oversees the implementation of ASEAN agreements and ensures coordination across different ASEAN bodies.
ASEAN Secretariat - Located in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Secretariat is responsible for supporting ASEAN’s activities and facilitating communication among member states.
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) - Serves as a platform for dialogue on political and security issues among ASEAN members and their dialogue partners. India joined the ARF in 1996.
Decision-Making Process - Consensus-based approach ensures that all member states have equal say in regional affairs.
India-ASEAN Relations
India and ASEAN have developed strong diplomatic, economic, and security ties over the years. India’s engagement with ASEAN follows its Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian countries.
Key Milestones in India-ASEAN Relations:
1992: India became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
1996: India became a Full Dialogue Partner and joined the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
2009 & 2014: India signed Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with ASEAN, covering goods (2009) and services & investments (2014).
2012: ASEAN and India elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
2022: India and ASEAN marked 30 years of partnership with a special summit in New Delhi.
India’s Role In ASEAN Defence Cooperation:
India actively participates in ADMM-Plus (ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus), a framework that enhances security cooperation between ASEAN and external partners.
ADMM-Plus Key Focus Areas:
Maritime security
Cybersecurity
Peacekeeping operations
Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
Military medicine
Counter-terrorism
ASEAN Future Forum
Proposed by Vietnam at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023.
Aims to create a common platform for ASEAN members and partners to exchange ideas and policy recommendations.
India is a founding member and an active participant.
Highlights of the 14th ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT):
The 14th ADMM-Plus EWG on CT focused on enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation among ASEAN nations and their partners, including India.
Key Outcomes Of Meeting
Planned Counter-Terrorism Exercises - A table-top counter-terrorism exercise will be held in Malaysia (2026). A field training exercise will take place in India (2027).
Co-Chairmanship of India and Malaysia - India and Malaysia have taken on co-chairmanship of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT) for 2024-2027.
Enhancing Information Sharing and Capacity Building - The meeting emphasized real-time intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism capacity building among ASEAN nations.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation - Countries discussed joint training programs, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and collaborative approaches to tackling terrorism and violent extremism.
Cybersecurity and Countering Online Radicalization - The meeting highlighted the need for stronger cybersecurity measures to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies online.
Conclusion
The 14th ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism showcased India’s strong commitment to ASEAN’s security framework and reinforced its strategic partnership with Southeast Asian nations. With upcoming counter-terrorism exercises in Malaysia (2026) and India (2027), the cooperation between ASEAN and its partners is set to deepen.
This meeting reaffirmed the importance of regional security collaboration in combating terrorism and highlighted India’s growing role as a key defence and security partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
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