Singapore's Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen chaired the 5th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Singapore today. The first edition of the annualised ADMM-Plus meeting was attended by all the Defence Ministers of ASEAN as well as its eight Plus partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the US.

As a significant signal of the ADMM-Plus' unity and commitment to regional stability and cooperation, the 5th ADMM-Plus issued two Joint Statements following their discussions, the first time that the ADMM-Plus has issued joint outcome documents since 2013. The ADMM-Plus Defence Ministers, in the first joint statement on Preventing and Countering the Threat of Terrorism, condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and agreed to strengthen regional counter-terrorism cooperation. This included a sustained and comprehensive approach at both national and international levels, regional cooperation through capacity-building initiatives and the sharing of information, intelligence, experience, best practices, and lessons learned. 

The second joint statement on Practical Confidence-Building Measures, the Ministers welcomed and gave in-principle support for the 12th ADMM's adoption of the world's first multilateral set of Guidelines for Air Military Encounters (GAME). Recognising the utility of such guidelines in enhancing aviation safety in light of increased congestion in the air, the eight Plus countries' Defence Ministers agreed to explore the collective application of these guidelines by the ADMM-Plus.

Following the 5th ADMM-Plus, Dr Ng and Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Prawit Wongsuwan co-officiated the ADMM Chairmanship Handover and Takeover Ceremony, where Dr Ng welcomed Thailand's incoming 2019 ADMM and ADMM-Plus Chairmanship. The ADMM-Plus Defence Ministers were thereafter hosted to lunch by Singapore's Acting Prime Minister/Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, where they discussed geopolitical developments and security challenges facing the region. 

Since its establishment in 2010, the ADMM-Plus serves as a key Ministerial-level platform in the regional security architecture for open and constructive dialogue, and practical cooperation on regional security issues. From being held once every three years, the frequency of the ADMM-Plus was increased to once every two years in 2012, and then further increased to an annual meeting last year at the 11th ADMM. Practical cooperation on the ADMM-Plus has grown from strength to strength, and currently spans seven areas of counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, military medicine, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian mine action, and cyber security through the Experts' Working Groups.