Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his meetings in Laos, where he attended the 11th annual ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). His participation underscores the significance of ASEAN centrality to the Department of Defense and emphasizes practical cooperation since the United States elevated its relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.
On November 21, Secretary Austin took part in the ADMM-Plus plenary session, marking his fourth meeting of this kind during his tenure. In his address, he reiterated the U.S. commitment to ASEAN centrality as essential for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. He outlined how U.S. security cooperation with ASEAN partners is fostering stability and prosperity in the area and discussed plans for a second ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise scheduled for 2025.
Secretary Austin also addressed challenges such as coercive activities by China in the South China Sea, violence in Burma, and Russia's war against Ukraine. Following these discussions, the Department released its first-ever Vision Statement for a Prosperous and Secure Southeast Asia detailing initiatives aligned with the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership beyond 2025.
In addition to attending sessions at ADMM-Plus, Secretary Austin met with defense leaders from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea, as well as separately with India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. The meetings highlighted shared commitments among allies to promote an Indo-Pacific region where international law is respected.
During talks with Minister Singh from India, both leaders acknowledged progress in their defense relationship through joint military exercises like TIGER TRIUMPH and MALABAR. They noted ongoing efforts toward deeper defense industrial cooperation and explored ways to enhance technology collaboration via INDUS-X.
Secretary Austin's visit to Laos is part of his twelfth trip to the Indo-Pacific region, which will conclude with a final stop in Fiji after visiting Australia and the Philippines.
