ASEAN defense ministers stress importance of strengthening defense cooperation to safeguard regional security and stability

Kuala Lumpur - Defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) affirmed on Thursday, during their 13th meeting, the importance of strengthening regional defense cooperation to maintain security and stability in Southeast Asia and to develop military partnerships to address common security challenges. This came in statements delivered during the meeting held in Cebu, Philippines, chaired by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, and attended by defense ministers and representatives from the 11 ASEAN member states, alongside eight dialogue partners, including US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol. China was represented by Yang Li, its military attaché at the embassy in the Philippines.

In his opening address, Teodoro called for consolidating defense cooperation based on respect for international law, state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs, with a commitment to peaceful dispute settlement and refraining from the threat or use of force. He outlined three priorities for defense cooperation: adherence to international law, continued development of joint military initiatives, and enhanced response to emerging security and economic challenges. He emphasized the need to expand cooperation in maritime security, disaster response, and protection of critical undersea infrastructure. He also highlighted the importance of military exercises and expert exchange programs among young defense officials to build trust and enhance coordination among participating countries, calling for strengthened cooperation in food and energy security to address disruptions in global supply chains caused by international conflicts.

For his part, Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Khalid Nordin urged during the meeting to expedite the completion of an effective and substantive code of conduct in the South China Sea to prevent escalating tensions and maintain regional security and stability amid ongoing maritime disputes and disagreements over contested areas. Nordin stressed that “no country will benefit from a conflict in the South China Sea,” calling on all parties to exercise restraint, avoid actions that could exacerbate tensions, and resolve differences peacefully in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He underscored the importance of maintaining ASEAN unity and its pivotal role in managing security challenges, affirming that dialogue and cooperation, rather than exclusion and confrontation, represent the best path to lasting peace.

For his part, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed his country’s commitment to enhancing regional security and combating terrorism, calling for expanded defense cooperation, exchange of expertise, and joint capacity-building to address transboundary security threats. Singh reiterated India’s commitment to supporting ASEAN’s pivotal role and strengthening cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the importance of building mutual trust and developing defense partnerships to confront common challenges.

The expanded ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting includes the 11 ASEAN member states alongside eight dialogue partners: the United States, China, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The Philippines, as the rotating chair of ASEAN for 2026, is hosting the defense ministers’ meetings in Cebu on October 28 and 29 to enhance political, economic, and security cooperation among regional countries. (End)