12th ADMM-Plus Concludes in Malaysia with 20 New Initiatives, Emphasises ASEAN Centrality Amid Rivalry

ADMM-Plus Concludes with Record 20 Initiatives as ASEAN Warns Against “Strategic Rivalry”

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Nov 2, 2025 - : 9:12 am

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The 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) concluded in Kuala Lumpur on 1 November 2025, marking a significant 15th anniversary for the forum. Hosted by Malaysia, the meeting saw defence leaders adopt a record 20 significant initiatives, while issuing a strong call for unity and reinforcing "ASEAN Centrality" as the antidote to growing great power competition in the Indo-Pacific.

The ADMM-Plus is the region’s premier, ASEAN-led security dialogue platform. Established in 2010, it convenes the 10 ASEAN member states with eight "Plus" partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States. The forum is designed to build trust and practical cooperation on traditional and non-traditional security threats, ranging from maritime security and counter-terrorism to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).

In a series of keynote addresses (Opening Remarks, Handover Speech, and Closing Remarks), the chair of the meetings, Malaysian Minister of Defence Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, framed the dialogue as essential for regional stability. The Malaysian chair welcomed several new ministers attending for the first time, including from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States, alongside welcoming Timor-Leste as ASEAN's newest member.

A central theme of the event was the bloc’s insistence on maintaining its role in the regional security architecture. The Malaysian Defence Minister stated clearly that the region must remain a "Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality, not a stage for strategic rivalry". This message was reinforced with a call for partners to engage ASEAN through its own principles, respect established norms, and uphold the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. This emphasis on an "ASEAN-led, inclusive" framework is seen as a direct response to increasing strategic tensions across the Asia-Pacific.

The minister also highlighted a definitive shift in the threat landscape, warning that modern challenges transcend borders. He pointed specifically to "powerful non-state actors in the cyberspace" capable of destabilising governments, as well as the immediate impacts of climate shocks, food insecurity, and pandemics. This focus underscores the growing need for defence establishments to invest in cyber resilience, climate monitoring, and biosecurity capabilities.

In a tangible outcome, the chairmanship concluded with the adoption of 20 new initiatives, the largest number in the forum's history. While chairing the meeting of approximately 603 delegates from 19 nations, Malaysia also used the platform to address specific geopolitical issues. The minister expressed "deep concern" over the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and Palestine and welcomed a US plan to end the conflict. Closer to home, he commended Cambodia and Thailand for using "constructive dialogue to resolve border disputes".

As Malaysia’s tenure ends, the Chairmanship of the ADMM and ADMM-Plus was formally handed over to the Philippines, which will host the meetings in 2026. The closing message reaffirmed the forum's 15-year mission: "dialogue over division, cooperation over competition, and trust over tension".