ASEAN Must Go Beyond Traditional Defence Cooperation - Mohamed Khaled

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) must evolve beyond traditional military cooperation to address emerging and non-traditional threats that transcend borders and dimensions, said Malaysia’s Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said modern-day security challenges such as cyberattacks, misinformation and digital manipulation now pose as great a danger as territorial disputes, requiring ASEAN to adopt technological foresight, cybersecurity collaboration and shared innovation.

“Whether on land, at sea or in cyberspace, we cannot afford to ignore any front of our security anymore. Powerful non-state actors wield technology as a weapon to disrupt societies, topple governments and undermine critical infrastructure through cyberattacks, misinformation and digital manipulation.

“If we fail to invest against these threats, we fail to secure our future,” he said in his opening remarks at the 19th ADMM, which officially kicked off today and was attended by ASEAN defence ministers and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said ASEAN’s growing convening power demonstrates the international community’s trust and confidence in the bloc’s neutral and inclusive approach to regional security.

He said ASEAN’s two enduring strengths - its internal unity and external openness - have enabled it to remain a credible, reliable and neutral host for the regional security agenda. 

Mohamed Khaled also expressed his appreciation to Thailand and Cambodia for entrusting Malaysia to help facilitate and expedite the peaceful resolution of their border dispute, as well as to other ASEAN member states and partners, including the United States, for their continued support in this effort.

“I urge all ASEAN nations to not only support this peaceful effort but also to facilitate and expedite the formation of the ASEAN Observer Team.

“It is our collective hope that peace and trust will continue to grow among us all because this is more than just a border matter; it is a testament of ASEAN’s reputation and ability to garner confidence and resolve conflicts peacefully,” he said.

In his speech, Mohamed Khaled reaffirmed that ASEAN Centrality must remain the region’s guiding principle, anchored on the collective commitment to always place ASEAN’s interests above all else.

He said only by standing together can ASEAN remain strong and undivided, while maintaining its position as the principal platform for dialogue and cooperation in the region.

The 19th ADMM and the 12th ADMM-Plus Meeting are being held from today until  Nov 2, with participation from the eight Plus Dialogue Partner countries, namely the United States, Russia, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

-- BERNAMA