Where is the Asian Defense & Security Exhibition (ADAS) held?

The exhibition is held in Metro Manila, PHL.

What is the primary focus of ADAS?

ADAS focuses on defense, security, and disaster relief, showcasing advancements in military technology, security systems, and emergency response equipment.

When does the ADAS event take place?

The event spans several days in early September.

Asian Defense & Security Exhibition (ADAS) 2026

Name: Asian Defense & Security Exhibition (ADAS) 2026
Start: 2026-09-02T00:00:00Z
End: 2026-09-04T00:00:00Z
Location: Metro Manila

Sep 2–4, 2026Metro Manila, PhilippinesIn-person

Starts in 25 daysRegistration open

The Asian Defense & Security Exhibition (ADAS) is a significant international event focusing on defense, security, and disaster relief. Held in Metro Manila, PHL, this exhibition serves as a crucial platform for showcasing the latest advancements in military technology, security systems, and emergency response equipment. It brings together government officials, military leaders, industry experts, and manufacturers from across the globe to foster collaboration and address contemporary challenges in defense and security.

Committees & topics

United Nations Disarmament and International Security Committee (UN DISEC)
Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC)
Conference of the Parties (COP)
Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP)
Lok Sabha Committee
Lok Sabha (House of the People), Parliament of India
Press Committee
International Press Committee

Why it matters

ADAS is particularly relevant given the evolving geopolitical landscape in Asia and the increasing need for robust defense and security capabilities. The event provides a unique opportunity for nations to explore strategic partnerships and procure advanced solutions to safeguard their interests. For countries like PHL, hosting such an event underscores its commitment to regional stability and its role as a key player in Asian security dialogues. The exhibition's focus on disaster relief also highlights the dual-use nature of many defense technologies, which are increasingly vital in humanitarian efforts and climate change adaptation strategies.

The discussions and showcases at ADAS often reflect broader trends in international relations, including the growing influence of powers like CHN and IND, and the continued strategic engagement of nations such as USA, RUS, FRA, and GBR in the region. The event facilitates direct engagement between these diverse stakeholders, allowing for the exchange of ideas and the forging of agreements that can have long-term implications for regional security architectures. Understanding the dynamics at play in such forums is critical for any diplomat or analyst seeking to grasp the complexities of modern defense procurement and strategic alliances.

How to prepare

Delegates preparing for discussions related to defense and security at ADAS should focus on understanding the national security priorities of PHL and other key regional actors. Researching recent defense procurements, security challenges, and disaster response frameworks of participating nations will provide a strong foundation. Familiarity with emerging technologies in cybersecurity, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) is also essential, as these are often central themes at such exhibitions.

Effective participation requires a nuanced approach to engagement strategies. This involves not only understanding the stated positions of various countries but also identifying hidden stakeholders and their underlying interests. A stakeholder mapping workshop could be invaluable in preparing for the diverse range of actors present, from government procurement agencies to private defense contractors and international organizations. Analyzing the potential for technology transfer, joint development projects, and capacity-building initiatives will also be crucial for productive discussions.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Philippines

Host nation with a strong interest in enhancing its defense capabilities and regional security cooperation.

Role in topic

As the host, PHL plays a central role in facilitating dialogue and showcasing its defense modernization efforts. The event is critical for PHL to engage with international partners for military hardware acquisition, training, and strategic alliances, particularly in areas like maritime security and disaster response.

United States

Major defense exporter and strategic ally, keen on maintaining regional influence and promoting interoperability.

Role in topic

USA is a significant participant, often presenting advanced defense technologies and seeking to strengthen security partnerships in Asia. Its presence underscores its commitment to regional stability and its role in counterbalancing other rising powers.

China

Rising military power and defense exporter, seeking to expand its influence and showcase its defense industry.

Role in topic

CHN participates to demonstrate its growing defense capabilities and to explore opportunities for defense exports and strategic partnerships within the region, often with an eye towards its own security interests and regional geopolitical dynamics.

India

Growing defense industry and strategic player, interested in diversifying its defense partnerships and showcasing indigenous capabilities.

Role in topic

IND uses such platforms to present its defense manufacturing prowess and to engage with other nations for defense cooperation, technology sharing, and potential export markets, aligning with its broader strategic objectives in Asia.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

United Nations Disarmament and International Security Committee (UN DISEC)

Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC)

The First Committee of the UN General Assembly, commonly known as DISEC, was established in 1945 to address threats to international peace through disarmament and arms control. Its mandate has evolved from Cold War nuclear arsenals and conventional force reductions to a far broader agenda encompassing biological and chemical weapons, small arms proliferation, and increasingly, emerging technologies. Landmark instruments shaped under its umbrella include the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968), the Chemical Weapons Convention (1993), and the Arms Trade Treaty (2014), though enforcement and universalization remain uneven. The contemporary agenda is dominated by three frontier issues: Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), where debates within the CCW Group of Governmental Experts since 2014 have stalled over whether to negotiate a binding instrument requiring meaningful human control; the militarization of outer space, intensified by destructive ASAT tests conducted by China (2007), the United States (2008), India (2019), and Russia (2021), against the backdrop of stalled PAROS negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament; and offensive cyber operations targeting critical infrastructure, addressed through the parallel GGE and Open-Ended Working Group processes. DISEC operates by consensus where possible but votes by simple majority, producing recommendations to the General Assembly rather than binding law. This has made it a forum for normative agenda-setting, with sharp divisions between states favoring preemptive prohibitions and those — including major military powers — preferring non-binding codes of conduct that preserve operational flexibility.

Key players

Conference of the Parties (COP)

Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP)

The Conference of the Parties is the supreme decision-making body of the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), convening annually since COP1 in Berlin in 1995. Its mandate is to review implementation of the Convention and adopt instruments necessary to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at levels preventing dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) introduced binding emissions targets for developed states, while the Paris Agreement (2015) restructured the regime around nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and a goal of limiting warming to well below 2°C, pursuing 1.5°C. Recent sessions have shifted focus from mitigation pledges to implementation and finance. COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh (2022) established the Loss and Damage Fund; COP28 in Dubai (2023) concluded the first Global Stocktake, calling for a transition away from fossil fuels; COP29 in Baku (2024) adopted a new collective quantified goal on climate finance of USD 300 billion annually by 2035, widely criticized by developing states as inadequate against the USD 1.3 trillion they sought. Persistent fault lines include climate finance burden-sharing, the operationalization of Article 6 carbon markets, and adaptation funding for vulnerable states. In the Asia-Pacific context, COP debates intersect with security: rising sea levels threaten the territorial integrity of small island states, climate-driven migration strains regional stability, and the energy transition reshapes strategic dependencies on critical minerals and hydrocarbons.

Key players

Lok Sabha Committee

Lok Sabha (House of the People), Parliament of India

The Lok Sabha is the directly elected lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, established under the Constitution of India that entered into force on 26 January 1950. With 543 elected members representing single-member constituencies, it holds primary authority over money bills, confidence in the government, and the bulk of national legislation. Its committee system — including Departmentally Related Standing Committees, the Public Accounts Committee, and ad hoc Joint Parliamentary Committees — performs detailed scrutiny of executive action, budgets, and proposed laws. In a simulated Lok Sabha at a defense and security exhibition, debate naturally gravitates toward national security legislation and defense policy: the modernization of the armed forces under schemes such as Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense manufacturing, indigenization through the Defence Acquisition Procedure, civil-military fusion in emerging technologies, and parliamentary oversight of intelligence and paramilitary forces. Recurring tensions include the balance between security imperatives — particularly along the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China — and civil liberties under laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. India's strategic posture as a regional power, founding member of the Quad, and aspirant permanent member of the UNSC informs how the House debates external defense partnerships, arms imports (historically from Russia, increasingly from France, the United States, and Israel), and indigenous platforms such as Tejas, Arihant-class submarines, and the BrahMos missile program.

Key players

International Press Committee

The International Press Committee simulates the role of the global news media in covering multilateral diplomacy. Press freedom is grounded in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the right to seek, receive, and impart information. UNESCO, designated lead UN agency on press freedom, monitors journalist safety through its 1997 Resolution 29 and the 2012 UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, while annual indices from Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists chart a sustained global decline in press freedom. Contemporary issues facing the press include the targeting of journalists in armed conflict — with record fatalities documented in Gaza since October 2023, alongside ongoing risks in Ukraine, Sudan, and Mexico — the proliferation of state-deployed spyware such as Pegasus against reporters, the collapse of advertising-based local journalism, and the disruption of the information environment by generative AI, synthetic media, and platform-driven algorithmic curation. Authoritarian and democratic governments alike have expanded legal tools — foreign agent registries, anti-fake-news statutes, and national security laws — that critics argue chill independent reporting. In a defense and security setting, the press also navigates the perennial tension between operational secrecy and public accountability: embedded reporting, classified leaks, open-source intelligence communities, and the verification of conflict imagery in an era of deepfakes all sit at the intersection of journalism, security, and international law.

Key players