KUALA LUMPUR, Tuesday 3 November 2015 – The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) this year was held in Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur on 3rd November 2015. ASEAN Defence Ministers and senior defence officials attended the Retreat, which is also held in conjunction with the 3rd ADMM-Plus – which includes the Plus Countries. Both meetings are chaired by His Excellency Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Minister of Defence of Malaysia and Malaysia’s ADMM and ADMM-Plus Leader.
During the ADMM Retreat, the ASEAN Defence Ministers exchanged views on the regional security outlook and emphasized the growing complexity of the security challenges that are affecting countries regionally and globally. The ASEAN Member States have also expressed their satisfaction on the number of activities that are initiated and implemented under the ADMM process. The Ministers encouraged the steady progress of all the ADMM initiatives with the intent to improve interoperability and coordination among the militaries in order to address the diverse security challenges that the region is facing.
Under Brunei Darussalam’s efforts in contributing to the ADMM framework, Brunei Darussalam has spearheaded three initiatives during the 2013 ADMM Chairmanship: the Establishment of the Direct Communications Link, the ADMM Logistics Framework and the ASEAN Defence Interaction Programme. During the Retreat, the Ministers have recognized Brunei’s efforts and have expressed their full support for all three of the initiatives – most particularly, the Direct Communications Link which was a concept that was first initiated by the call made by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during Brunei Darussalam’s Chairmanship of the 22nd ASEAN Summit. With the unwavering commitment from all the ASEAN Member States, His Majesty’s vision of a “hotline” is now realized and will be expected to be fully implemented next year during Lao PDR’s Chairmanship.
As ASEAN would soon reaching the ASEAN Community at the end of this year, the ASEAN Member States reiterated their full commitment to continue the momentum of capacity- and capability-building in order to address changing realities of the dynamic security environment, as well as deepening the people-to-people relations which will provide the basis of mutual trust, understanding and respect among the ASEAN Member States.
Representing His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, in his Majesty’s capacity as the Minister of Defence, was Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The 3rd ADMM-Plus Meeting will convene tomorrow on the 4th November 2015.