ADMM Expected To Discuss ASEAN Centrality - Khaled Nordin

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) remains a crucial platform to uphold and discuss ASEAN centrality, in the midst of an increasingly dynamic global and regional landscape, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming meeting, he also emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation among ASEAN member states to ensure the region remains stable and united, particularly in addressing emerging defence concerns.

Another key issue was the significance of exploring new areas of defence cooperation to ensure ASEAN remains resilient in facing complex geopolitical threats, particularly in the South China Sea, he noted.

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“There is a need for more to ensure ASEAN not only (is) workable, but to enhance our cooperation, to address and to face the changing and dynamic situation that the world has left, and also our region is currently facing.

“But we need to explore, in terms of defence, new areas of cooperation in defence to ensure ASEAN will remain intact,” he told a press conference at Parliament building today.

Mohamed Khaled stressed that ASEAN centrality is essential in navigating regional security threats, particularly in the South China Sea.

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“In order for us to be successful in facing whatever challenges, especially in ASEAN, especially in South China Sea, the question of ASEAN centrality is very important that is the only way we feel that we will be able to face whatever challenges that is coming to this region and also rest of the world,” he said as he pointed out ASEAN’s unique success in preventing conflicts among neighbours through established defence mechanisms.

The upcoming ADMM is expected to focus on strengthening regional defence cooperation and reinforcing ASEAN’s strategic unity in facing evolving security challenges, he added.

-- BERNAMA