India Co-Chairs 14th ADMM-Plus Counterterrorism Meet: Strengthening Regional Security

From March 19 to 20, 2025, New Delhi will host the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counterterrorism. This significant gathering, co-chaired by Malaysia and India, will bring together delegations from ten ASEAN member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand—along with eight dialogue partners: Australia, New Zealand, South Korea (RoK), Japan, China, the United States, and Russia. There will be representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and Timor Leste as well.

Significance of India’s Role in Counterterrorism

India would be the co-chair again of the EWG on Counterterrorism according to regional security and counterterrorism obligations. 19 March 2025 would see the event begin for the first time, with Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh serving as a guest speaker. India’s engagement in ADMM-Plus reflects its devotion to the global struggle against terrorism through inter-state policymaking and dialogue. The nation has remained a firm promoter of counterterrorism action with constant demands for enhanced sharing of intelligence, joint military training, and tough legislative measures against the changing terror threats.

Objectives and Agenda of the Meeting

Counterterrorism for the period 2024-2027 meeting that has been scheduled. The negotiations will include the formulation of an effective and comprehensive strategy in order to counteract the changing terrorist and extremist threats. The conference aims to share in-depth experience and best practices from ASEAN Defence Forces and their dialogue partners and make cooperative efforts on concrete counterterrorism matters. It will open the way for later events, exercises, seminars, and workshops throughout the 2024–2027 cycle. The meeting agenda will be:

1. Enhancing Intelligence Sharing: Strengthening the existing information-sharing mechanisms among ASEAN and its partners to detect and prevent potential terrorist activities.
2. Joint Military Training and Exercises: Synergizing training schemes to enhance interoperability amongst member countries and partners in counterterrorism activities.
3. Technological Advancements in Counterterrorism: Laying down measures on how to use artificial intelligence, big data, and cyber security practices against digital and cyber terrorism.
4. Legislative and Policy Frameworks: Scrutinizing country and regional policies to reinforce legal assistance and streamline counterterrorism mechanisms.
5. Capacity Building and Community Engagement: Developing programs to educate communities and vulnerable populations on radicalization and de-radicalization strategies.
6. Countering Emerging Terrorist Financing Tactics: Uncovering and countering new means by which terrorist groups raise money for their activities.

The Role of ADMM-Plus in Regional Security

One of the most influential forums for active interaction among the Southeast Asian defense establishments involved and the rest of the Asia-Pacific is the ADMM-Plus. It is built on the platform of seven core areas of cooperation:

• Counterterrorism: Crafting concerted measures to discourage acts of terror and improve resilience.
• Maritime Security: Ensuring safe trade routes and settling piracy, illegal fishing, and maritime territorial matters.
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management: Actively responding to natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.
• Peacekeeping Operations: Enhancing regional peacekeeping capabilities and collaboration.
• Military Medicine: Strengthening medical response systems for military personnel and civilians in conflict zones.
• Humanitarian Mine Action: Mitigating the threats of unexploded ordnance and landmines.
• Cybersecurity: Countering cyber threats that threaten national and regional security.

Each EWG has a three-year rotating co-chair, one from a member of ASEAN and the other from a dialogue partner. They are responsible for setting objectives, guiding policy, and determining strategic priorities. Moreover, they schedule regular meetings (every two years), and during their third year, they conduct an activity to measure how successful they were at working together in the real world.

Challenges and Emerging Threats in Counterterrorism

Counterterrorism operations within the ASEAN region are also confronted with the following challenges:

1. The Rise of Lone-Wolf Attacks: The growing number of individuals who have been radicalized by the internet poses a serious threat.
2. Cyberterrorism: The exploitation of the internet by terrorist groups for recruiting, financing, and coordinating attacks is increasing more perilously.
3. Terrorist Financing through Cryptocurrencies: The utilization of illegal cryptocurrency transactions has drastically frustrated the efforts made by organizations and authorities to trace, track, and ultimately prevent the flow of funds involved in terrorist financing activities.
4. Border Security Issues: Terrorist organizations can freely work in the majority of ASEAN nations because their borders are not very secure.
5. Political Instability and Conflicts: Terrorist organizations thrive in ASEAN nations primarily due to ongoing conflicts and political unrest.

Prospective Steps and Strategic Recommendations

To properly address such matters, the ADMM-Plus counterterrorism conference will strive to implement most of its strategic plans:

• Strengthening Regional Cooperation: Developing bilateral and multilateral relations between ASEAN member states and dialogue partners.
• Investing in Advanced Surveillance Technologies: Utilizing AI-based security systems, drone surveillance, and biometric identification to track and neutralize terrorist threats.

• Implementing Comprehensive De-Radicalization Programs: Establishing rehabilitation programs for persons affected by extremist ideologies.
• Expanding Public Awareness Campaigns: Encouraging grassroot movements against terrorism for anti-radicalization at the people’s level.
• Harmonizing Legal Frameworks: Unifying counterterrorist law across the ASEAN countries for ease of implementation.

The Road Ahead for ASEAN and India

The 14th ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group on Counterterrorism facilitates a safer and more resilient ASEAN community. With India assuming the co-chairmanship, the session reflects India’s dynamic role in regional security and anti-terror activities. By means of intelligence sharing, joint training exercises, innovation, and coordination with the people, the ADMM-Plus platform will substantially assist in keeping at bay the menace of terrorism and extremism.

The session will give practical suggestions guiding ASEAN and its dialogue partners toward making concrete counterterrorism actions in the period spanning the next three years. As the worldwide security landscape continues to evolve, efforts like this, focusing on collaboration, will be important in maintaining peace, stability, and security across the region.