ASEAN Defense Ministers’ meeting opens with key ministers from U.S., China, and others

The ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), a forum to discuss regional security in Asia, opened on October 30 (local time). The meeting brings together defense ministers from the 11 ASEAN member states as well as eight partner countries, including South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, Russia, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

On the first day, ministers arrived in Kuala Lumpur and held bilateral meetings to coordinate positions ahead of the main sessions. The ADMM plenary among ASEAN member states is scheduled for October 31, followed by the ADMM-Plus expanded meeting with partner countries on November 1. The conference will conclude on November 2 after expert working group sessions.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, currently on an Asia tour, arrived in Kuala Lumpur after departing Japan. He will hold bilateral talks with Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Khaled Nordin, the host as Malaysia chairs ASEAN this year, as well as individual meetings with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, among others, to discuss peace and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting may also revisit the issue of increased defense spending among allied countries, a topic dating back to the Trump administration. However, it remains uncertain whether a U.S.-China defense ministers’ meeting will take place.

After the ADMM, Secretary Hegseth will visit Vietnam and South Korea. On November 3–4, he is scheduled to visit the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and attend the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) between South Korea and the U.S.