The most recent ASEAN defence meet was the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) held on October 31, 2025, and the 12th ADMM-Plus (ADMM-Plus) which took place on November 1, 2025, both in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 
Key Details and Outcomes

• Host and Chair: Malaysia chaired the meetings with the theme "ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity".
• Attendees: Defence Ministers from the 11 ASEAN member states and eight ADMM-Plus Dialogue Partners attended, including India, represented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Key Discussions and Outcomes:

• Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration: Ministers signed a 25-point declaration addressing regional challenges.
• Indo-Pacific Security: India emphasized the importance of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and adherence to UNCLOS.
• New Initiatives: Concept papers were adopted for new initiatives, including the ASEAN Defence Search and Rescue Exercise (ADSARX) and Critical Underwater Infrastructure (CUI) Security.
• Joint Exercises: Upcoming joint maritime exercises with the US were welcomed, and "Plus One" format drills with China, India, and South Korea were planned.
• ASEAN-India Cooperation: A second informal meeting discussed deeper engagement, including defence technology, and scheduled the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise for 2026.
• Chairmanship Handover: The Philippines will assume the chairmanship of ASEAN and ADMM in 2026 with the theme "Navigating Our Future Together". 

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