ASEAN, EU Urged To Act As Anchors Of Stability Amid Global Conflicts

By Fadzli Ramli

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 28 (Bernama) -- ASEAN and the European Union (EU) have been urged to step up as anchors of stability and predictability amid escalating global conflicts and severe supply chain disruptions.

The call was made by the Co-Chairs of the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) here today, namely Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Erywan Yusof, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

Both leaders, in their respective opening addresses, highlighted that maintaining the status quo is no longer sufficient as the world faces a stress test on multiple fronts.

Erywan said the global community is currently meeting at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and a clear erosion of the global model.

He said rising tensions and conflicts are actively disrupting supply chains, destabilising energy markets, and driving up the cost of essential goods globally.

"The rules-based international order we speak of today did not emerge by accident. It must be built on the confidence that nations will act responsibly, honour commitments, and engage one another as equals within a common system of rules. Today, that foundation is under strain," he said.

Also present was Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The two-day 25th AEMM ends today. Brunei, the host, is the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations for the 2024–2027 term.

In response to these challenges, Erywan said ASEAN and the EU must strengthen their cooperation purposefully and with greater ambition.

"As organisations that uphold international law and the principles of multilateralism, we have both the responsibility and the capacity to act as anchors of stability and predictability," he added.

Echoing the urgency of the situation, Kallas said the world is being tested like never before, pointing out that the ongoing war in the West Asia has triggered a global energy crisis.

She said although no nation is spared, the economies of Southeast Asian nations are among the most severely affected, with the war driving up costs of energy, food, fertiliser, and transport, thereby fuelling inflation and slowing growth.

Kallas noted that Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine continues to erode the very foundations of the UN Charter.

To counter these threats, she called for a partnership that is strategic in vision and concrete in action.

"Because in a world defined by rising geopolitical competition, the EU and ASEAN cannot afford to drift apart. We must stand together in defence of the UN Charter, multilateralism, and the rules-based international order," she said, adding that the partnership must produce results that the people can see and feel.

While trade remains a strong foundation, with the EU serving as ASEAN's third-largest trading partner and making good progress on Free Trade Agreements with countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, Kallas stressed that economic ties alone are insufficient.

"Security is now inseparable from prosperity. We must go further to focus on security because wars and threats do not respect borders," Kallas stated.

She also noted the necessity of collective action in addressing modern vulnerabilities, ranging from cybersecurity and the misuse of artificial intelligence to the protection of undersea critical infrastructure and maritime security.

As the two regional blocs approach the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations in 2027, both Erywan and Kallas expressed their commitment to using this strategic juncture to elevate the current relations into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that is stable, predictable, and reliable.

-- BERNAMA