Manila Joint Declaration on the 20th Anniversary of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting: Navigating Our Future, Together

The Twentieth ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (hereinafter referred to as the “ADMM”), convened in Cebu, Philippines on 28 October 2026;

RECALLING the spirit by which the ADMM was inaugurated in 2006 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to bring ASEAN’s political and security cooperation to a higher plane, and to ensure that countries in the region live at peace with one another and with the world at large in a just, democratic and harmonious environment;

RECOGNISING the convening power of the ADMM as the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN, and UNDERSCORING the importance of the ADMM as a driving force of constructive dialogue and practical cooperation with ASEAN at the centre amidst the growing uncertainty in the regional and global security landscape, as well as the increasing complexity of traditional and non-traditional security challenges;

RECALLING the establishment of the ADMM-Plus in 2010 and its annualisation in 2017 as manifestations of the ADMM’s commitment to advancing an ASEAN Community within an inclusive and outward-looking framework, while upholding and strengthening ASEAN Centrality and unity;

REAFFIRMING our steadfast commitment to promoting peace, security and stability in the region in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations (UN) Charter, and including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);

REITERATING our adherence to the fundamental principles, shared values and norms enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, the Declaration on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP);

UNDERSCORING the commitment of all parties to cooperating in a constructive and peaceful manner to maintain the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity, through the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, within a mutually agreed timeline, and EMPHASISING the commitment of all parties to promoting maritime security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight, and creating a conducive environment for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea;

REAFFIRMING that the ASEAN Leaders’ Five-Point Consensus (5PC) remains as the primary reference to address the situation in Myanmar, as well as further reaffirming all relevant ASEAN Leaders’ decisions, and SUPPORTING the full implementation of the 5PC to assist Myanmar in finding a peaceful and durable solution to the ongoing situation;

COMMENDING the contribution of the defence sector to Community-building efforts, as acknowledged in the 2024 Joint Statement by the ASEAN Defence Ministers on the ADMM’s Accomplishments in the Implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025, and REAFFIRMING the commitment to implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 (ACV 2045) with the defence sector playing a significant role in promoting and maintaining regional peace, security and stability, as manifested in the 2025 Joint Statement by the ASEAN Defence Ministers on the Implementation of the APSC Strategic Plan of the ACV 2045;

REAFFIRMING our support for Timor-Leste’s integration in the ADMM and ADMM-Plus process;

COMMENDING the progress and achievements of all ADMM initiatives over the past 20 years and CONTRIBUTING to ASEAN Member States’ joint efforts in realising the APSC Strategic Plan of the ACV 2045;

COMMENDING the achievements and steady progress of practical cooperation under the ADMM-Plus through the Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Maritime Security, Military Medicine, Counter-Terrorism, Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian Mine Action, and Cyber Security;

ACKNOWLEDGING the contribution of the ADMM and ADMM-Plus in addressing multi-dimensional issues requiring cross-pillar and cross-sectoral collaboration, including in the areas of cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI), blue economy, pandemic preparedness and response, the impacts of climate change, and the empowerment of women and youth;

COMMENDING the continued effective implementation of the ADMM-Plus EWGs Observership Programme for the 2024-2027 cycle, involving Canada, France, Germany, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom, as a reflection of the ADMM-Plus as an inclusive and outward-looking framework;

NOTING the successful conduct of the 2nd ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise in September/October 2026 and its contribution to ASEAN’s practical defence and security engagement with Plus Countries, while facilitating capacity- and confidence-building between the navies of ASEAN Member States and India;

RECOGNISING the contribution and progress of the ASEAN Member States’ militaries in promoting mutual trust and confidence, and advancing practical cooperation and capacity-building, particularly through the ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM) and its related meetings and activities, and RECALLING the desire of the ADMM to work together with the ACDFM to further institutionalise military cooperation, as manifested in the 2020 Concept Paper on Developing the Linkage between the ADMM and the ACDFM; and

ACKNOWLEDGING the role of the Track II Network of ASEAN Defence and Security Institutions (NADI) in providing relevant insights and recommendations on tackling current and emerging security challenges for consideration of the ADMM, consistent with the 2017 Concept Paper on Enhancing the Linkages between the ADMM and the NADI.

WE HEREBY DECLARE TO:

UPHOLD the relevance of the ADMM and ADMM-Plus by anticipating and adapting to the evolving regional architecture, and facilitating collective and constructive efforts to address and respond to emerging and current security challenges in the region and beyond;

REINFORCE multilateralism within the ADMM and ADMM-Plus frameworks, including through the implementation of the AOIP from a Defence Perspective (AOIP DP) and the ADMM-Plus EWGs Observership Programme, which enable ASEAN to leverage diverse expertise and perspectives, while promoting an open and transparent regional architecture with ASEAN at the centre;

CONTRIBUTE to the enhancement of ASEAN’s role as a locomotive of peace, stability and security amidst geopolitical and geostrategic dynamics by continuing strategic dialogue and practical cooperation among ASEAN Member States and the Plus Countries, and exploring opportunities for collaboration with external partners in a manner consistent with established ADMM guidelines, including the 2021 Concept Paper on the ADMM’s External Engagements and the 2024 Strategy Paper on a Future-Ready ADMM and ADMM-Plus;

DEVELOP existing areas of cooperation under the ADMM and ADMM-Plus, and EXPLORE new domains of interest where the defence sector can make meaningful contributions, while leveraging existing streams for cross-sectoral cooperation, as necessary, in line with the 2024 Strategy Paper on a Future-Ready ADMM and ADMM-Plus;

CHART the next bound of the defence sector’s work programmes and initiatives following our Leaders’ endorsement of the ACV 2045 and its accompanying APSC Strategic Plan, with a view to substantively contribute to the realisation of a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred ASEAN;

REAFFIRM the importance of mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of nations, as well as maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond;

RECOGNISE the ASEAN Leaders’ Review and Decision on the Implementation of the 5PC and ASEAN’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the restoration of peace and stability, and the peaceful transition to normalcy in Myanmar and, to this end, REITERATE the need for a full implementation of the 5PC;

EMPHASISE the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, and safety in the South China Sea and, to this end, pursuing peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, maintaining freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, and exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would escalate the disputes or complicate the situation and affect peace and stability;

STRENGTHEN the implementation of ADMM-adopted initiatives and guidelines as part of confidence-building measures for militaries to improve operational safety in the air and maritime domains, including the ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI), ADMM Guidelines for Maritime Interaction (GMI), and Guidelines for Air Military Encounters (GAME);

ENHANCE the work processes of the ADMM and ADMM-Plus by continuing to streamline and harmonise initiatives in a resource-efficient and sustainable manner, including through the work of the Defence Focal Points (DFPs) and the conduct of a resource prioritisation exercise for ADMM-Plus EWGs every cycle;

WELCOME the outcomes of the 20th ADMM under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together”;

ADOPT the Concept Paper on Enhancing Linkage between the ADMM-Plus and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Defence Dialogues, which seeks to enhance complementarity and synergy between the ASEAN defence sector and the ARF to avoid duplication of efforts, and promote more economical and efficient outcomes;

ADOPT the Concept Paper on the ADMM Young Leaders’ Exchange Programme (AYLEP), which aims to promote a generational investment in and empower the young people of the ASEAN defence sector, in realisation of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda and in line with the ACV 2045 and its accompanying APSC Strategic Plan;

ADOPT the Guide to ADMM and ADMM-Plus Practices and Protocols, which intends to provide comprehensive and practical guidance to the ASEAN Member States and Plus Countries on general order of proceedings and key protocol matters for the conduct of the ADMM, ADMM-Plus and related meetings;

APPROVE the Maritime Security Resilience amidst Emerging Technologies Conference, as an implementation project under the AOIP DP, which will place emphasis on the implications of advancements in AI and emerging technologies to the capacity of the defence sector to withstand, absorb, adapt to, and rapidly recover from disruptions to maritime infrastructure and operations;

APPROVE the 2027 ADMM-Plus Conference on Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Threats, which is intended to emphasise practical cooperation on and operationalisation of lessons learnt in preparedness for, response to, and management of CBR incidents;

WELCOME the Joint Statement by the ASEAN Defence Ministers Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the TAC, which reaffirms the TAC as a foundational code of conduct for inter-state relations and a cornerstone of regional peace and prosperity;

WELCOME the Joint Statement by the 13th ADMM-Plus on YPS, which underscores the youth’s effective and meaningful involvement in pursuing peaceful resolution of disputes and preventing armed conflict in accordance with international law, as well as in shaping lasting peace and contributing to reconciliation, and commits to further advancing the contributions of youth to peace and security;

WELCOME the new sets of ADMM-Plus EWGs Co-Chairs and LOOK FORWARD to the adoption of their respective Work Plans for the 2027-2030 cycle;

EXPRESS the highest appreciation to Malaysia for its ASEAN Chairship in 2025 and to the Philippines for its ASEAN Chairship in 2026; and

WELCOME Singapore as the next ASEAN Chair and its hosting of the 21st ADMM and the 14th ADMM-Plus in 2027.

ADOPTED in Cebu, Philippines on the Twenty Eighth Day of October in the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Six, in a single original copy in the English language.

More Resources

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