Latest news with #ADMM-Plus
News18
21 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Rajnath Singh To Attend SCO Defence Ministers' Meet In China From June 25 To 27
Last Updated: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit China for the SCO Defence Ministers' meet in Qingdao from June 25-27, meeting his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meet in Qingdao from June 25 to 27 in his first such visit since Operation Sindoor. Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif will also attend the meeting. The visit coincides with India and China working to normalise relations, marked by the resumption of trade, travel, and dialogue. Singh will have bilaterals with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the SCO meet. The meeting is happening at a time when the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed. Patrolling is happening in Depsang and Demchok. India and China are holding talks to reduce border tensions and enhance bilateral ties. Singh's visit follows his meeting with China's Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun at the ADMM-Plus summit in Laos, their first interaction after the border disengagement agreement. The potential visit is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to normalise India-China ties, which may include discussions on reviving the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, restoring air links, exchanging hydrological data, and enhancing visa and people-to-people exchanges. India reiterated its support for China's SCO presidency during recent talks in Delhi between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Rajnath Singh likely to visit China for SCO defence meet, first since Galwan clash
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to visit Qingdao, China, later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting. China is hosting the summit this year and has extended an invitation to Singh for the same. This will be Rajnath Singh's first visit to China after the 2020 Galwan visit would mark the first Indian ministerial-level engagement in China since both countries reached an agreement in October 2024 to resume patrolling and withdraw troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern and China have been engaging in dialogue to ease tensions along the border and improve bilateral relations. Singh last met China's Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun, during the ADMM-Plus summit in Laos, which was their first interaction following the disengagement understanding. The potential visit comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to normalise ties between the two countries. These include possible talks on reviving the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, re-establishing air connectivity, resuming the exchange of hydrological data, and facilitating visa and people-to-people has also reiterated its support for China's SCO presidency. This was underscored during recent discussions in Delhi between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Rajnath Singh
Asia Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
Forging a European third pole in the Indo-Pacific
At the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, European leaders signaled an ambitious new intent to play a bigger role in Indo-Pacific affairs. French President Emmanuel Macron called for a 'strategic balance' in Asia, while European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas described Europe as a 'partner, not a power.' Officials from Germany, Sweden, and Finland echoed these views. The proposition is that Europe could serve as a stabilizing third pole, positioned between China's assertiveness and the United States' fluctuating and uncertain commitments. This framing has intuitive appeal. Europe is viewed as technologically capable, geopolitically distant and less hegemonic than either the US or China. Yet the Indo-Pacific remains a maritime-first theater, where strategic relevance is defined not by sentiment but by presence and sustained investment. The Indo-Pacific region accounts for over 60% of global maritime trade and encompasses some of the world's most contested flashpoints, including the South China Sea, the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. China now fields the world's largest navy, with 355 ships in 2025 and a projected 440 by 2030. The US retains dominance in tonnage and strike capability but is capable of building only 1.5 ships annually, compared to China's at least eight. By contrast, European capabilities remain insufficient for sustained operations in the Indo-Pacific. Only France, the United Kingdom and Italy operate aircraft carriers. The UK has two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, but only one is deployable at a time due to maintenance cycles. As of 2025, the UK's Royal Navy fields just 16 operational F-35Bs, well short of the 24 typically required for a full carrier air wing. France's sole carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, when docked, removes its carrier-based airpower from the theater. Italy's Cavour and Trieste remains reliant on AV-8B Harriers, with fewer than 10 next-generation aircraft available as of 2024. All three navies face shortfalls in escorts and support vessels. While a US carrier strike group typically includes four to six escorts and one to two support ships, European deployments often manage only two to three escorts. It is therefore unsurprising that less than 5% of Europe's naval assets are deployed to the Indo-Pacific. Europe's current naval presence may be limited but three avenues offer Europe the opportunity to make meaningful, near-term contributions to Indo-Pacific security. First, Europe could pursue full membership in the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), the region's foremost multilateral security forum. Established in 2010, ADMM-Plus comprises ASEAN and eight dialogue partners: The United States, China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, New Zealand, and South Korea. The forum has conducted more than 20 joint exercises and supports expert working groups in areas such as maritime security, counterterrorism and cyber defense. However, bloc cleavages are deepening. Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea are much more dependent on US defense systems, while Russia, in the aftermath of its war in Ukraine, is increasingly dependent on China. ADMM-Plus may be due for a strategic evolution, one in which Europe could act as a stabilizing third pillar of Indo-Pacific security. Europe's full membership as dialogue partners would enable it to contribute meaningfully to regional capacity-building, particularly in maritime domain awareness, counter-piracy and cybersecurity, areas where it possesses deep technical expertise. Second, Europe can increase its strategic relevance in the region by linking defense exports to local industrial development. Southeast Asian states increasingly expect arms deals to include technology transfers, job creation and long-term economic value. This was reflected in ASEAN chairman Anwar Ibrahim's SLD25 statement that 'trade is part of our strategic architecture.' Recent European defense deals have embraced this logic. Sweden's Gripen sale to Thailand included training and maintenance infrastructure. France's 7.5 billion euro (US$8.6 billion) Rafale agreement with Indonesia and Germany's 1.2 billion euro submarine contract with Singapore similarly offered industrial participation. To move beyond fragmented, bilateral arrangements, however, the EU should use instruments such as the European Peace Facility (EPF) and Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a 150 billion euro defense investment fund approved in May 2025. These mechanisms can support coproduction, joint ventures and localized assembly aligned with both European supply chain interests and Southeast Asia's development needs. Finally, programs like SAFE are designed to strengthen Europe's defense industrial base by financing large-scale joint procurement and infrastructure. But scaling this capacity cost-effectively may require trusted partnerships beyond Europe's borders. ASEAN offers that potential, particularly if it is more closely integrated into European defense supply chains. If structured to meet SAFE's eligibility criteria – such as majority EU ownership or controlled IP – these arrangements could support the program's objectives of efficiency, resilience and industrial depth while enabling Southeast Asian states to modernize affordably under transparent, rules-based frameworks. All in all, Europe's growing Indo-Pacific aspirations are diplomatically significant but strategically incomplete. To play a central role, Europe needs to embed itself in regional institutions such as ADMM-Plus, align defense engagement with economic development and integrate trusted regional partners into its defense industrial supply chains. These moves won't match American force projection or offset Chinese naval expansion, but they could anchor Europe as a durable, strategic partner in a region looking for options beyond the familiar two superpower poles. Marcus Loh is chairman of the Public Affairs Group at the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Asia Pacific. He also serves on the executive committee of SGTech's Digital Transformation Chapter, contributing to national conversations on AI, data infrastructure, and digital policy. A former president of the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore, Loh has played a longstanding role in shaping the relevance of strategic communication and public affairs in an evolving policy, technology and geoeconomic landscape.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Chan Chun Sing meets Timor-Leste president, foreign defence leaders
SINGAPORE – Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing met several of his counterparts on the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30, and reaffirmed Singapore's friendly bilateral defence ties with their countries, the Ministry of Defence said. The minister called on Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta, and they exchanged views on regional security developments and ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, said Mindef. Mr Chan also met Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and both ministers reaffirmed the warm and longstanding bilateral relationship. They discussed regional security issues and cooperation between their countries in multilateral platforms such as the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), ADMM-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements. 'Singapore and Malaysia's defence establishments interact regularly across a wide range of activities, including bilateral and multilateral exercises, visits, professional exchanges, and cross-attendance of courses,' said Mindef. 'These interactions strengthen mutual understanding and professional ties.' In a meeting Mr Chan had with Brunei's Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof, they discussed bilateral cooperation as well as engagement through multilateral platforms such as the ADMM and ADMM-Plus. Singapore's and Brunei's militaries have regular interactions through high-level visits, professional exchanges, cross-attendance of courses and bilateral exercises, which strengthen ties and enhance professionalism, said Mindef. Both countries will mark the 50th anniversary of defence relations in 2026. Mr Chan also met Philippine Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro Jr, and they expressed their commitment to continue working together through the ADMM and ADMM-Plus meetings. They also discussed avenues to further defence cooperation between their countries. In addition, Mr Chan met French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu. Mr Chan expressed appreciation for France's support for the Republic of Singapore Air Force training at Cazaux Air Base since 1998. Both ministers also exchanged views on security priorities and geopolitical developments, said Mindef. The two defence ministers had earlier on May 30 signed three agreements to expand cooperation between Singapore and France in emerging and advanced areas of defence technology, such as quantum and artificial intelligence. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a state visit to Singapore. The state visit comes as Singapore and France mark 60 years of diplomatic relations. During the visit, PM Wong and Mr Macron upgraded bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Republic's first with a European country. Mr Chan's meetings took place at the Shangri-La Hotel, where regional and global defence leaders have gathered for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security summit. The dialogue, being held from May 30 to June 1, brings together defence ministers, military chiefs and security experts from around the world to discuss key security issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Straits Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Chan Chun Sing meets Timor-Leste president, foreign defence leaders
Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH SINGAPORE – Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing met with a number of his regional and international counterparts on May 30, where he reaffirmed Singapore's friendly bilateral defence ties with them. On the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr Chan called on Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta. The two leaders exchanged views on regional security developments and ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, said Mindef. Mr Chan met Brunei's Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof, and discussed bilateral cooperation as well as engagement through multilateral platforms such as the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus. Singapore's and Brunei's militaries have regular interactions through high-level visits, professional exchanges, cross-attendance of courses and bilateral exercises, which strengthen ties and enhance professionalism, said Mindef. Both countries will mark the 50th anniversary of their defence relations in 2026. Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing (right) with Brunei's Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof on May 30. PHOTO: MINDEF Mr Chan also met Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr, and the two leaders expressed their commitment to continue working together through the ADMM and ADMM-Plus meetings. They also discussed avenues to further defence cooperation between their countries. Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing (right) with Philippines Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro at the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH In addition, Mr Chan met French Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu. At their meeting, Mr Chan expressed appreciation for France's support for the Republic of Singapore Air Force training at Cazaux Air Base since 1998. Both ministers also exchanged views on security priorities and geopolitical developments, said Mindef. The two defence ministers had earlier on May 30 signed three agreements to expand cooperation between Singapore and France in emerging and advanced areas of defence technology, such as quantum and artificial intelligence. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a state visit to Singapore. The state visit came as Singapore and France marked 60 years of diplomatic relations. During the visit, PM Wong and President Macron upgraded bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Republic's first with a European country. Mr Chan's meetings took place at the Shangri-La Hotel, where regional and global defence leaders have gathered for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security summit. The dialogue, being held from May 30 to June 1, brings together defence ministers, military chiefs and security experts from around the world to discuss key security issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
