ADMM-19: ASEAN united for security and prosperity

The high-ranking Vietnamese defense delegation, led by General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense, attended the meeting.

Strengthening ASEAN solidarity and resilience

In his opening remarks, the Malaysian Defense Minister expressed gratitude for the support of ASEAN member states for Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, including the organization of ADMM-19 under the theme “ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity.” He emphasized that despite global volatility in 2025, ASEAN economies have remained resilient. The Malaysian Defense Minister congratulated Cambodia and Thailand on signing a peace agreement and Timor-Leste on officially becoming the 11th member of ASEAN, and expressed sympathy with Vietnam and the Philippines over recent natural disasters.

Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang (second from right, front) attends the 19th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-19).

He affirmed that in a complex global landscape, ASEAN continues to remain united and cohesive, serving as a living example of harmony and cooperation connected and guided by shared interests and mutual respect for independence and sovereignty. He stressed that ASEAN’s unity remains a shield against uncertainties and challenges.

Representing the Vietnamese delegation, General Phan Van Giang reaffirmed Vietnam’s strongest support for Malaysia to successfully fulfill its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. He underscored the need to further consolidate ASEAN solidarity and resilience to proactively and flexibly respond to regional security challenges for a peaceful, secure, and self-reliant region. General Giang congratulated Timor-Leste on its admission to ASEAN, and extended best wishes to the new defense ministers of Laos, Singapore, and Thailand. He also expressed sympathy to the Philippines over the recent earthquake and thanked other countries for their condolences and support for Vietnam following recent storms and floods.

ADMM-19 reviewed the outcomes of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) and approved eight new ADMM initiatives, including plans for the ASEAN Maritime Cybersecurity Conference Concept Paper on the Implementation of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific from a Defense Perspective, ASEAN-Korea Defense Industry Cooperation Workshop, informal meetings of ASEAN-Plus 1 defense ministers, organization of ASEAN-Plus 1 maritime exercises, and preparations for the 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (12th ADMM-Plus) scheduled for November 1.

Delegates attend the 19th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-19) in Malaysia.

The meeting adopted two key joint statements: the Joint Statement by the ASEAN Defense Ministers on the Implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Strategic Plan of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, and the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of the ADMM on ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity. The latter reaffirmed ASEAN’s central role and ADMM/ADMM-Plus mechanisms in promoting regional security cooperation, and stressed the importance of addressing non-traditional security challenges through open, transparent, and inclusive cooperation with dialogue partners. It also called for the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus to resolve the situation in Myanmar.

ASEAN-China defense cooperation: Looking toward the future

On the sidelines of ADMM-19, General Phan Van Giang attended a luncheon between ASEAN defense ministers and the Chinese Defense Minister.

An overview of the ASEAN - China Defense Ministers' Luncheon

Chinese Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun emphasized the increasingly substantive and effective defense cooperation between China and ASEAN, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region. Delegates reviewed the achievements and best practices of ASEAN-China defense ties, shared views on mutual concerns, and discussed future cooperation directions.

General Phan Van Giang reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong support for practical cooperation and trust-building between the two sides. He welcomed and supported the organization of the 2nd ASEAN–China Joint Maritime Exercise, viewing it as a measure to strengthen coordination and reaffirm mutual commitment to defense cooperation. He also supported China’s participation in the ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI) initiative, describing it as an important step to enhance trust, improve timely information sharing, and strengthen responses to non-traditional security challenges in the region, including maritime security.

Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang and Chinese Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun meet each other on the sidelines of the ASEAN - China Defense Ministers' Luncheon on October 31.

Vietnam stands ready to actively participate in ASEAN–China Young Officers’ Exchanges and ASEAN–China Defense Research Institutes’ Dialogues, considering these initiatives as effective channels for fostering understanding and confidence among future leaders and defense scholars. Vietnam also supports China and Brunei as co-chairs of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group (EWG) on Peacekeeping Operations for the 2024–2027 cycle.

ASEAN–India relations: Expanding comprehensive cooperation

On the same day, General Phan Van Giang attended the ASEAN–India Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting, co-chaired by the Malaysian Defense Minister Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

An overview of the ASEAN–India Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting

Delegates assessed that the ASEAN–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to grow strongly and substantively across various fields, including defense – one of the pillars contributing to maintaining regional peace, stability, and prosperity. They also discussed measures to enhance ASEAN-India defense cooperation in the time to come.

General Phan Van Giang emphasized that India is a pro-active and responsible partner within the ADMM-Plus framework, successfully co-chairing several experts’ working groups, including the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action (2014–2017) with Vietnam, and co-organizing the first ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise in 2023.

To further strengthen cooperation, the Vietnamese Defense Minister proposed three key initiatives: (1) Enhancing maritime cooperation – supporting the organization of the 2nd ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise in 2026 in the Philippines; (2) Expanding cooperation on counter-terrorism and non-traditional security challenges; and (3) Promoting practical cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), focusing on maritime cooperation, connectivity, and sustainable development.

Vietnam will participate in the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (2024–2027) co-chaired by India and Malaysia. ASEAN and India, in addition, can consider expanding cooperation to areas where India has strengths such as cyber security, defense industry and digital transformation, and United Nations peacekeeping operations, he added.

General Phan Van Giang expressed confidence that with determination and consensus of all parties, ASEAN–India defense cooperation will continue to achieve new successes, contributing to peace, security, and sustainable regional development.

Promoting bilateral defense ties between Vietnam and partners

* On the sidelines of ADMM-19, Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang met with Lao Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Tea Seiha, marking the first trilateral meeting among the defense ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia at a multilateral forum. The three ministers reaffirmed that defense and security cooperation remain a cornerstone of their countries’ relations, agreed to further strengthen practical coordination in the time to come, and educate people and troops, especially the youths, to raise their awareness of the historical significance of Vietnam–Laos–Cambodia solidarity.

Defense Ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia meet on the sidelines of ADMM-19.

General Giang also held bilateral meetings with the defense ministers of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and New Zealand, and had informal exchanges with the defense ministers of China, Singapore, and the Philippines, discussing ways to deepen practical and effective defense cooperation in line with the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and these countries.

Translated by Trung Thanh