Context
- Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines, to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity (JCA).
About ADMM-Plus JCA
- ADMM-Plus is a multilateral defence cooperation framework that brings together ASEAN Member States and eight Plus countries for dialogue and practical cooperation.
- The Joint Cooperation Activity (JCA) brings together participa ting maritime forces for professional and operational engagements.
- Objective: To enhance interoperability, mutual understanding and cooperation among participating maritime forces in the maritime domain.
India’s Participation
- Indian Naval Ships: INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish are participating in the activity.
- The deployment is part of the Indian Navy’s operational deployment and provides opportunities for professional interaction with participating maritime forces.
- India’s participation is aligned with its Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.
Significance
- Enhances multilateral maritime cooperation and interoperability among regional maritime forces.
- Promotes greater understanding of shared maritime challenges through professional and operational engagements.
- Strengthens India’s engagement with ASEAN and Indo-Pacific partners under the Act East Policy.
- Further strengthens India–Philippines maritime cooperation, following the establishment of the India–Philippines Strategic Partnership in August 2025.
Conclusion
The participation of INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish in the ADMM-Plus JCA reinforces India’s commitment to multilateral maritime cooperation, regional security and constructive engagement with ASEAN and Indo-Pacific partners.