News Releases
Armies of ASEAN Member States Deepen Camaraderie and Strengthen Coordination for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
26 November 2025
The Singapore Army hosted the 26th ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM) and 13th ASEAN Sergeant Majors Annual Meeting (ASMAM) on 26 November 2025.
The Singapore Army hosted the 26th ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM) and 13th ASEAN Sergeant Majors Annual Meeting (ASMAM) on 26 November 2025. The ACAMM and ASMAM are annual meetings among the Chiefs of Army and Sergeant Majors of the Army from ASEAN Member States (AMS). They provide crucial platforms to strengthen professional ties among the Armies of AMS and advance cooperation on key regional security challenges.
Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing, delivered the keynote address at the ACAMM-ASMAM Joint Opening Ceremony held at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore. In his address, Mr Chan highlighted the evolving security challenges facing the region, noting that whilst the world has become more volatile and uncertain, ASEAN countries must stay united and vigilant. Mr Chan said, “If each of us go our own way, our voices will be diminished. On the other hand, if each of us can work together as one ASEAN, then our voices, our perspectives, will be amplified on the world stage.” He emphasised the importance of building collective capabilities to address both conventional and emerging threats that transcend borders. “This is a forum whereby we build trust, we build confidence with one another, and together, we build capabilities to overcome our challenges together. Such capabilities can include Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).”
The 26th ACAMM, chaired by Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Cai Dexian, featured a multilateral roundtable by each country that discussed the importance of climate adaptation, integration of advanced technologies, and civil-military coordination in HADR operations. In his remarks, MG Cai underscored Singapore’s commitment to enhancing regional disaster response, including through the activities of the Changi Regional HADR Coordination Centre (RHCC). He shared, “The Changi RHCC provides militaries and civilian agencies with a shared operating picture, enhances real-time information sharing, deconflicts air and sea movement, and strengthens alignment between military contributions and the broader ASEAN response effort.”
The 26th ACAMM concluded with the ASEAN Army Chiefs issuing a Joint Statement on “Building Regional Cooperation in Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR)”. As part of the Joint Statement, the Armies of AMS agreed to enhance exchanges and cooperation to strengthen coordination in HADR, including in the use of digital technologies and through Exercise Trident Resolve in 2026. Exercise Trident Resolve will be the first ADMM-Plus Combined Field Training Exercise involving three Experts’ Working Groups. It will feature realistic and complex scenarios across the cyber, HADR, and military medicine domains.
Ahead of the ACAMM and ASMAM, the 33rd ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM) was held in Singapore from 18 to 27 November 2025. First organised in 1991, the AARM is an annual shooting competition among the Armies of AMS, aimed at bolstering professional exchanges and camaraderie. This year, the AARM involved over 420 sharpshooters, who competed in five disciplines – Carbine, Machine Gun, Pistol Ladies, Pistol Men, and Rifle. The AARM Closing Ceremony will be held at SAFTI MI on 27 November 2025.
More Resources