By Brian Campued
The Philippines as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year stressed the need for the bloc to be agile and united in responding to the challenges confronting the region, including geopolitical and security threats.
In a speech before convening the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu Thursday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said that “navigating uncertainty requires both agility in responding to immediate and pressing challenges and steadfast commitment in pursuing our long-term goals under the ASEAN Community 2045.”
Recognizing the wide-ranging impacts of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East in Southeast Asia, Lazaro reiterated the need to strengthen the bloc’s coordination mechanisms and institutional readiness in times of crisis.
She likewise assured that the ministers will discuss the commemoration of the 50-year-old ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, the bloc’s engagement with external partners, as well as the post-admission integration of Timor-Leste, which officially joined ASEAN in October 2025.
Lazaro said that as special envoy of ASEAN chair on Myanmar, she will also provide a briefing on the situation in Myanmar and the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
Meanwhile, Lazaro emphasized ASEAN’s role as a “primary driving force” in shaping the regional architecture despite an increasingly complex global environment.
“Our vision is crystal clear: a peaceful, stable, and secure region based on the fundamental principles as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, the UN (United Nations) Charter, and principles of international law,” she said in an opening speech for the 31st ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting.
According to Lazaro, aside from the developments in the Middle East, the region is also facing issues such as cybersecurity threats, transnational crime, and maritime security.
“Our region must circumspect amid forces that threaten multilateralism,” she added.
As maritime cooperation is one of the three key outcome documents the APSC is pushing for ahead of the leaders’ summit on Friday, Lazaro called for the establishment of an ASEAN Maritime Centre in the Philippines.
Lazaro also mentioned the proposed ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation, which aims to deepen collaboration on maritime security, safety, and governance. Key initiatives include establishing the ASEAN Maritime Centre in the Philippines to enhance regional coordination.
“As a region linked by our seas, the maritime domain remains central to our pursuit of stability and prosperity,” she said.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is part of a series of ministers-level meetings ahead of the summit proper on Friday.
The 31st APSC Meeting, on the other hand, convenes leaders under the Political-Security Community pillar to advance regional peace, stability, and cooperation at a time of evolving regional and global challenges.
-jpv
