16th ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter-Terrorism

Current Context: The 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism was a significant three-day regional security event held in New Delhi, India, from January 14 to 16, 2026.

Key Highlights:

• Host & Co-Chairs: The event was hosted by India’s Ministry of Defence and co-chaired alongside Malaysia.
• Participants: Delegations from 11 ASEAN members (including Timor-Leste) and 7 Dialogue Partners (Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the USA) attended, along with the ASEAN Secretariat.
• Focus: The meeting was the third session of the current 2024–2027 cycle. It focused on sharing best practices in counter-terrorism operations, intelligence frameworks, and training initiatives.
• Operational Planning: A major component was the Final Planning Conference for a Table Top Exercise (TTX). This exercise is part of a multi-year roadmap:
• 2026: Malaysia will host the Table Top Exercise (TTX).
• 2027: India will conduct a large-scale Field Training Exercise (FTX) to conclude the cycle.

Question:

Q.1 Which country co-chaired the 16th ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter-Terrorism along with India?
a) Indonesia
b) United States
c) Malaysia
d) Australia

Answer: c) India and Malaysia jointly co-chaired the meeting as part of the 2024–2027 cycle.