Cyber-security, military medicine forefront challenges: Rajnath Singh at ADMM-PLUS

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday attended the signing of a joint declaration by the ASASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting- Plus (ADMM-Plus) which was aimed to strategise the security vision among the memmber countries. Addressing the meet via a virtual conference, the minister said that we need to continue our efforts to tackle bio-terrorsim threats and pandemic diseases.

“Threats to the rules-based order, maritime security, cyber related crimes and terrorism, just to name a few, remain the challenges that we need to address as a forum,” the defence minister said on the occasion of the meeting’s 10th anniversary.

"As we enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation, will go a long way in bringing sustained peace to the region," the Defence Minister added.

In a veiled jibe at Pakistan, Singh said that structures that support and sustain terrorism continue to exist, including in India’s neighbourhood.

He further added that the collective achievement in the past decade has been remarkable and said, “ADMM has grown in the last decade to become the fulcrum of peace, stability and rules-based order in this region."

ADMM Plus has become a “fulcrum of peace, stability and rules-based order in this region” and India’s concepts of “vasudhaive kutumbakam” or “the whole world is one family” and “sarve bhavantu sukhinah” or “all be at peace” emphasise inclusivity, equality and openness, Singh mentioned.

The ADMM-PLUS is an annual meet where ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States (collectively referred to as plus countries) discuss ways to strengthen security, demanding mutual defence cooperation for peace.