MANILA, PHILIPPINES, Thursday 2 March 2017 – The 1st of the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Working Group (ADSOM WG) and ADSOM-Plus Working Group (ADSOM-Plus WG) meetings of 2017 concluded today in Manila, Philippines.
The meetings were chaired by the Assistant Secretary for Assessments and International Affairs, Department of National Defense, Philippines, Professor Raymund Jose G. Quilop. Present as the Head of Delegation and ADSOM WG Leader of Brunei Darussalam was the Acting Director of Defence Policy, Haji Adi Ihram bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud.
ADSOM WG discussed agendas relating to the progress and streamlining of ASEAN defence cooperation including in areas such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR); Direct Communications Link (DCL); Peace Keeping Operations; Defence Industry Collaboration; Military Medicine; as well as Logistics Support Framework.
Meanwhile the ADSOM-Plus WG discussed the tentative work plans and concept papers of all the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups in seven key areas which include HADR; Maritime Security; Counter-Terrorism; Peace Keeping Operations; Military Medicine; Humanitarian Mine Action; and Cyber Security.
The meetings also discussed the necessary preparations for the upcoming ADSOM and ADSOM-Plus meetings which will be held in Cebu, Philippines on 5 to 7 April 2017.