ASEAN defense chiefs meet in Indonesia, discuss security in region

ANKARA

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers on Thursday met in Jakarta and discussed the security situation in the region.

On the second day of the 10th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus, chaired by Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, the defense ministers welcomed their Timor-Leste counterpart Donaciano Do Rosario Da Costa Gomes, marking the country's first participation in a series of ADMM-Plus meetings as observer, state-run Antara News reported.

Defense chiefs of seven ASEAN partner countries, including Australia, Japan, India, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and China, attended the meeting.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has already arrived in Jakarta to meet the ASEAN counterparts.

On Wednesday, the ASEAN defense ministers called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza amid Israeli attacks and a solution to the escalating conflict between the military junta and armed groups in Myanmar's Shan State.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid