Singapore Affirms Commitment to Multilateral Cooperation and an Open and Inclusive Regional Security Environment

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat, which was held virtually today.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen attended the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Informal Meetings with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Australia today. The meetings were held virtually via video conferencing.

At the ADMM Retreat, the countries commended Brunei's ADMM Chairmanship, discussed the ADMM's progress and exchanged views on the regional and global security environment. The ADMM also exchanged views on future areas of cooperation for the ADMM and ADMM-Plus¹.

Delivering his remarks at the ADMM Retreat, Dr Ng highlighted that the ADMM and ADMM-Plus are accepted as the region's security platforms for countries to engage in open dialogue as well as practical cooperation through the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Groups (EWG). Dr Ng said that this was because the ADMM has been open and inclusive since its inception, and has upheld its credibility through its actions to foster regional stability.

Dr Ng added that the ADMM has done well in building a range of initiatives to promote peace and stability in the region, and that the ADMM must continue to address other transnational challenges – whether they be pandemics, maritime security, terrorism, cyber threats or climate change. Dr Ng also reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to the implementation of the ADMM-Plus EWG observership programme².

At the ASEAN-ROK Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting, the ADMM and ROK Minister of National Defense Suh Wook exchanged views on multilateral cooperation and capacity-building to overcome non-traditional security threats such as in the domains of cybersecurity and CBR (Chemical, Biological, Radiological). This is the first ASEAN-ROK Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting.

At the ASEAN-Australia Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting, the ADMM and Australia Minister for Defence Peter Dutton discussed ways to strengthen the ASEAN-Australia defence relationship and areas of cooperation. Dr Ng welcomed the deepening of ties and collaboration with Australia, and invited Australia to continue to strengthen the ADMM's counter-terrorism capabilities.

The ADMM Retreat and Informal Meetings concluded with the handing over of the ADMM Chairmanship from Brunei to Cambodia. The ADMM and ADMM-Plus are key pillars of the region's security architecture and have contributed to regional peace and stability by fostering trust and sustained cooperation among all 18 countries.

¹ADMM-Plus involves the 10 ASEAN Member States and its eight Plus partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States.

²The ADMM-Plus EWG observership programme allows non-Plus countries to observe selected EWG activities, and to share their expertise and experience to raise ASEAN Member States’ capabilities to address regional security challenges.

Dr Ng (centre) with the other ADMM countries at the ADMM Retreat.

The ADMM at the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting.

The ADMM at the ASEAN-Australia Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting.