Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen attended the 17th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in Jakarta, Indonesia, today.

At the 17th ADMM, the ASEAN Defence Ministers adopted the Jakarta Joint Declaration of the ADMM for Peace, Prosperity and Security which reaffirms the ADMM's commitment to strengthening defence cooperation amongst ASEAN Member States and Plus countries to address regional security challenges while upholding ASEAN centrality and unity. Noting the need to maintain regional peace and stability, the Joint Declaration underscores the importance of upholding international law and promoting confidence-building measures.

The Ministers also adopted the Guidelines for the Implementation of the Observer Status Granted to Timor-Leste in ADMM and ADMM-Plus co-sponsored by Indonesia and Singapore which enables Timor Leste's participation in the ADMM and ADMM-Plus' meetings and activities. Timor-Leste Minister of Defence Donaciano Do Rosário da Costa Gomes attended the ADMM for the first time as an observer. The Ministers also commended Indonesia's ADMM Chairmanship, discussed the ADMM's progress in defence cooperation, and exchanged views on the regional and global security architecture, and on future areas of cooperation for the ADMM.

On the sidelines of the 17th ADMM, the ASEAN-US Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting was held, during which US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III reaffirmed the US' strong support and commitment to the region, as well as the US' role in bolstering ASEAN's ability to address evolving threats within the region. The meeting further discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and the US on defence capacity-building through training and education, as well as through expanding the US' practical cooperation with ASEAN. The ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting was also conducted with Japan Minister of Defence Minoru Kihara. Aside from discussions on the regional and international security architecture, the meeting discussed ASEAN-Japan's new and expanded defence cooperation under the Vientiane Vision 2.0.

Dr Ng met with Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. during which both Ministers reaffirmed the warm and friendly bilateral defence ties and exchanged views on deepening defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Dr Ng also met with Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Chansamone Chanyalath. Both Ministers reaffirmed the warm and friendly defence ties and exchanged perspectives on regional security developments ahead of Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship for 2024. During Dr Ng's meeting with Malaysian Minister of Defence Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan, both Ministers reaffirmed the warm and long-standing bilateral defence ties between Singapore and Malaysia and the continued cooperation on multilateral platforms such as ADMM, ADMM-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements.

Dr Ng will attend the 10th ADMM-Plus tomorrow. The ADMM will be joined by Defence Ministers and their representatives from the eight Plus countries, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the US.