13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Held in the Philippines

Why in the News?

The **13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)** took place on October 28–29, 2026, in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines, under the Philippine Chairship with the theme **"Navigating Our Future, Together"**.

Key Features / Major Points:

- Host & Leadership: Chaired by Secretary of National Defense **Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.** (Philippines), hosting both the 20th ADMM and 13th ADMM-Plus.

- Participating Nations: Brought together 19 nations comprising **11 ASEAN member states** (including Timor-Leste) and **8 Dialogue Partners** (India, USA, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand).

- Indian Representation: Defence Minister **Rajnath Singh** led the Indian delegation, reiterating India’s commitment to ASEAN Centrality under the 'Act East Policy'.

- India-South Korea Bilateral Talks: On the sidelines, Rajnath Singh held comprehensive talks with South Korea's Defence Minister **Kang Shin-chul**. Both leaders agreed to explore new avenues to co-develop military technologies, strengthen joint defence industry manufacturing, and reinforce Indo-Pacific maritime security.

- Key Engagements: Rajnath Singh also held bilateral security dialogues with counterparts from the U.S. and Japan (Shinjiro Koizumi). ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn actively participated in discussions.

Static GK Facts:

- ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations):

- Formed: **August 8, 1967** (Bangkok Declaration).

- Secretariat/Headquarters: **Jakarta, Indonesia**.

- Secretary-General: Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.

- ADMM-Plus:

- Inaugural Meeting: Held in **2010** in Hanoi, Vietnam.

- Country Profile (Philippines):

- Capital: **Manila** | Currency: **Philippine Peso (PHP)**.

One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):

Q: Which country hosted and chaired the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)?

A: The Philippines (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu)

Q: What was the central theme of the 13th ADMM-Plus meeting held in 2026?

A: "Navigating Our Future, Together"

Q: With which country's Defence Minister (Kang Shin-chul) did Rajnath Singh hold talks on co-developing military technologies at ADMM-Plus?

A: South Korea

Q: Where is the official headquarters/secretariat of ASEAN located?

A: Jakarta, Indonesia

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