Discuss the utility of ASEAN-centred platforms such as ADMM-Plus for India's Indo-Pacific strategy.

The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) first met in Hanoi in 2010. It brings ASEAN members together with their dialogue partners, including India, the US and China [2]. India has been a dialogue partner since 1992 [2]. For India, these ASEAN-led forums give its Indo-Pacific strategy a neutral and inclusive base, but their usefulness is limited by consensus politics.

Utility for India's Indo-Pacific strategy

• Normative voice: At the 10th ADMM-Plus (2023), India reaffirmed freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce [1]. This lets India push for a rules-based order without taking part in bloc politics.
• Practical cooperation: ADMM-Plus has seven Experts' Working Groups (EWGs), covering areas such as maritime security, counter-terrorism and HADR. Each is co-chaired by one ASEAN state and one Plus country for three years [2]. India co-chaired HADR with Indonesia (2021–24) and now co-chairs Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia (2024–27) [3]. This builds leadership credentials and interoperability.
• Counter-terrorism agenda: The Counter-Terrorism EWG gives India a standing multilateral platform against cross-border terrorism [3]. At Cebu in 2026, India and the US agreed on zero tolerance towards state support for terrorism [5].
• Sidelines diplomacy: The forum brings all major powers to one table. The 10-year India-US Major Defence Partnership Framework was signed at the 12th ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur (2025) [4] and reviewed at Cebu (2026) [5], with no separate visit needed.
• Strategic autonomy: Because the setting is led by ASEAN rather than the US, India can deepen ties with Washington and Southeast Asia without joining a military bloc. This supports Act East.

Limitations

• Consensus-bound: Outcomes are mostly statements, with no way to enforce them.
• China factor: China's membership and divisions within ASEAN weaken joint positions on maritime disputes.
• Episodic engagement: Exercises are occasional, so lasting gains depend on India's own naval and industrial capacity.

Way forward

• Use EWG co-chairships to host more exercises. India is to host a counter-terrorism field training exercise in 2027 [3].
• Pair ADMM-Plus with the Quad and with bilateral ties to the Philippines and Vietnam.

ASEAN-led platforms are a low-cost, high-legitimacy gateway for India into the Indo-Pacific, with value at the normative, operational and diplomatic levels. If India respects ASEAN centrality and backs these forums with minilateral and bilateral depth, they can serve as lasting pillars of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.