ASEAN To Enhance Global Partnerships with AOIP And TAC

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) – The ASEAN Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the need to strengthen ASEAN’s external engagements by leveraging existing ASEAN organs and mechanisms.

They also agreed to actively explore new partnerships that align with ASEAN’s principles and objectives, and are consistent with its established rules, procedures, and protocols.

This includes advancing the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and deepening engagements with High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

The reaffirmation was made during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) held here on July 9, reflecting the commitment of the regional bloc to ensure consistency and coherence in the conduct of its external relations amid today’s evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape.

In recalling the decision made at the 54th AMM in 2021 to commence a comprehensive review of the moratorium on new Dialogue Partnerships, the ministers agreed that ASEAN must continue upholding its centrality and role as the primary driving force in managing relations with external partners. 

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers underscored the need to recalibrate existing external partnerships—shifting from a focus on quantity to one that prioritises practical outcomes and strategic value aligned with ASEAN’s priorities.

They further recognised that any new engagements must be pursued within frameworks that are broadly supported and consistent with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045: Our Shared Future. These efforts should complement existing ASEAN mechanisms and sectoral bodies.

These must remain grounded in ASEAN’s principles and decision-making processes as set out in the ASEAN Charter, TAC, and ASEAN’s guidelines on external relations.

To this end, the Ministers tasked the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) with continuing its review of ASEAN’s Dialogue Partnerships, including the ongoing moratorium on new Dialogue Partners.

The ASEAN Secretariat was also directed to prepare a comprehensive Assessment Paper on ASEAN’s Formal Partnerships. This document will serve as a strategic reference to guide the evolution of external engagements based on ASEAN’s long-term strategic goals.

The review will adopt an action-oriented approach to ensure coherence across all three pillars of the ASEAN Community and the ASEAN Connectivity agenda. It will prioritise ASEAN-led, strategic, relevant, and mutually beneficial partnerships.

The findings and recommendations of the review will be submitted to a future ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting for consideration.

-- BERNAMA