Rajnath Singh Meets US Defence Secretary at ADMM-Plus in Cebu

In a significant diplomatic engagement, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) held in Cebu, Philippines. This meeting was particularly noteworthy as it coincided with the inaugural anniversary of the US-India Major Defence Partnership Framework.

Strengthening Defence Cooperation

During their discussions, Singh and Hegseth explored avenues to enhance bilateral defence collaboration. Hegseth later took to X to express his appreciation for the meeting, stating, “Great meeting with Indian Minister of Defence Singh. We celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Framework for our Major Defense Partnership and explored ways to strengthen cooperation.”

Last year, Singh and Hegseth formalized their partnership by signing the framework, which aims to guide their countries toward a unified vision for deepening defence ties over the next decade. This evolving partnership outlines strategic objectives geared towards mutual security interests.

ADMM-Plus: A Platform for Dialogue

The ADMM-Plus serves as a critical platform for dialogue and cooperation among defence ministers from various Indo-Pacific nations. In addition to his engagement with Hegseth, Secretary Hegseth held discussions with defence officials from South Korea, Australia, and Japan, each addressing regional security and collaborative defence efforts.

• With South Korea's Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back, discussions focused on a partnership rooted in “peace through strength,” emphasizing combined capabilities.
• Meetings with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles highlighted initiatives to fortify bilateral alliances and enhance deterrence.
• In dialogue with Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, shared goals for improved training and defence investments were discussed.

Singh's Agenda at ADMM-Plus

Rajnath Singh arrived in Cebu on Tuesday evening, receiving a ceremonial welcome from M Gen Fabian M Pedregosa, a figure in the Philippine Department of National Defence, alongside the Indian Ambassador to the Philippines and other officials.

Singh is set to address pressing regional and international security challenges at the ADMM-Plus meeting. He emphasized India’s dedication to fostering stronger ties with the ASEAN nations and ensuring stability within the Indo-Pacific region. Prior to his departure to Cebu, Singh noted, “India is firmly committed to ASEAN centrality and the peace, stability, and collective growth of the Indo-Pacific region under our Act East Policy.”

On the sidelines of the conference, Singh plans to engage in bilateral discussions with defence ministers from several nations, including:

1. The United States
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. Philippines
5. Singapore
6. Vietnam
7. South Korea

Through these engagements, Singh aims to fortify India's role in regional security frameworks and create robust partnerships that can adapt to emerging challenges.