Penang: The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat kicked off with the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Senior Officials Working Group (ADSOM WG) Meeting at a hotel in Batu Ferringhi.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the programme gathers defence ministers and senior officials from all 10 ASEAN member states along with observer state Timor-Leste, and will proceed with bilateral meetings as part of the retreat. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin is expected to conduct a walkabout session during the retreat, which will last until February 27.

Previously, Mohamed Khaled emphasized that the ADMM Retreat serves as a crucial platform for defending and discussing ASEAN's centrality in the changing global and regional landscape. It also stresses the significance of enhancing cooperation among ASEAN member states and identifying new areas for defence collaboration. The retreat will continue into its second day, under the chairmanship of Mohamed Khaled as the host.

More than 150 delegates from the 10 ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and the ASEAN Secretariat are expected to attend the retreat. Penang is set to host 13 major meetings during the ASEAN-Malaysia 2025 Chairmanship, featuring discussions at working, senior official, and ministerial levels, coordinated by seven ministries.

The ADMM Retreat is part of the ASEAN-Malaysia 2025 Chairmanship, themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. Throughout the year, Malaysia will host over 300 ASEAN-related meetings, programmes, and summits, having previously chaired ASEAN in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.