BrainBuzz Academy

Why in News?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Vientiane, Laos, from November 20 to 22, where he will attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), which focuses on regional and global security issues.
What is ADMM-Plus?
About:
The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and its eight Dialogue Partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States (collectively referred to as the “Plus Countries”), to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region. 
The ADMM is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN.
Establishment:
The Inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, in 2010.
Since 2017, the ADMM-Plus meets annually, to allow enhanced dialogue and cooperation among ASEAN and the Plus Countries in the midst of an increasingly challenging regional security environment.
Objectives:
To benefit ASEAN Member States in building capacity to address shared security challenges, while cognisant of the differing capacities of various ASEAN Member States.
To promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater dialogue and transparency;
To enhance regional peace and stability through cooperation in defence and security, in view of the transnational security challenges the region faces;
To facilitate the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme, which calls for ASEAN to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous ASEAN, and to adopt greater outward-looking external relation strategies with our friends and Dialogue Partners.
Achievements:
The ADMM-Plus has become an effective platform for practical cooperation among the participating countries’ defence establishments. 
The ADMM-Plus currently focuses on seven areas of practical cooperation, namely maritime security (MS), counter-terrorism (CT), humanitarian assistance and disaster management (HADR), peacekeeping operations (PKO), military medicine (MM), humanitarian mine action (HMA) and cyber security (CS).  
Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs) have been established to facilitate cooperation in these areas. 
The EWGs are each co-chaired by one ASEAN Member States and one Plus Country, operating in a three-year cycle.
Significance of the Visit:
Singh’s visit marks India’s commitment to regional security. It reflects India’s strategic partnerships with ASEAN nations. Strengthening these ties is crucial for addressing common security challenges.

Useful information for all competitive exams:
Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN):
Establishment: Bangkok Declaration 8 August 1967 (57 years ago)
Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
Membership: 10 member states(Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)
2 observer states( East Timor, Papua New Guinea)
Secretary-General: Kao Kim Hourn
Chairmanship of ASEAN: Laos