On the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit, the ASEAN Defence Minister’s meeting (ADDM) Plus was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The United States (U.S.) Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Chinese and Indian counterparts, signaling Washington’s bid to strengthen cooperation across Asia and to deepen defence ties and arms deal with India, as both countries position themselves to counter Beijing’s growing influence.
Inside the ASEAN defence summit
This 12th ASEAN Defence summit focused on strengthening regional defence cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region. The main agendas include strengthening regional defence cooperation, addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges, maritime security, along with institutionalizing defence framework among members and partners. The meeting was attended by ASEAN countries and their eight dialogue partners that includes India, China, as well as the USA, to address security challenges such as cyber defence, AI, disaster response and maritime security.
India-USA marks a new phase in regional cooperation
On the sideline of 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers ‘Meeting -Plus (ADMM-Plus), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth where both leaders signed the ‘framework for the US-India major defence partnership’. This 2025 framework ushers a new phase for the partnership’s ten-year transformation that aims to strengthen defence cooperation through a common vision and strategic direction.
The framework aims to further deepen the defence partnership by providing ‘a unified vision and policy direction’ to improve cooperation in all domains, including defence industrial collaboration, military interoperability across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, as well as maritime domain awareness over the next decade.
Both sides assured that defence will remain a major pillar of bilateral ties as their partnership is critical to maintain a free, open, and rule-based Indo-Pacific region, a reference to efforts aimed to counter China’s forceful behaviors in the region. The two leaders expressed gratitude for the bilateral defence cooperations ongoing momentum and reiterated their commitment to expanding the mutually beneficial partnership across all its pillars.
Tentative thaw among Washington and Beijing
At the recent ASEAN meeting China and USA managed to ease the ongoing regional tensions. Both countries have agreed on framework for trade deal just days before Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping were due to meet. The countries also agreed to reopen direct military-to –military communication channels which marks a significant upswing to prevent potential misunderstanding and managing crisis in the South China sea and wider Indo-Pacific region in a more comprehensive manner.
Moreover, their discussions touched upon potential pausing of the proposed US tariffs and proposed talks on rare earth extraction policies. Highlighting the significance of preserving the regions power balance, the Defence Secretary, Hegseth told the Chinese counterpart Dong Jun that US will “stoutly defend its interests” (in the region).
South Asian Perspective
The outcome of this summit will matter a great deal for India and South Asian nations. The defence framework between India and USA strengthens New Delhi’s Act East Strategy and serves as a strategic counterbalance to China. At the same time increased presence and surveillance of US naval in Southeast Asia contributes to safeguarding sea lanes that are vital for India’s trade and energy flow.
Apart from India many South Asian nations like Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives cannot overlook how the US-China dynamic in Southeast Asia affects the Indian ocean region. In order to confront China’s growing assertiveness, the USA has worked to strengthen its position in South Aisa.
Conclusion
The summit showcased Washington’s attempt to tackle this tactful geopolitical Triangle in the Southeast Asia. The U.S. deepened their defence ties with India in order to restore deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, and simultaneously seek to ease their tensions with China. While Hegseth emphasized commitment to regional stability, China’s call for a “shield of common security” revealed the contrasting security visions at play. This meeting reinforces how Southeast Asia remains the focal point of great power competitions and strategic balance.
