UK Reaffirms ASEAN Commitment Through FPDA, Security Cooperation - Envoy

By Nur Atiq Maisarah Suhaimi

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- The United Kingdom (UK) has reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace and stability by strengthening cooperation with ASEAN member states under Malaysia’s chairmanship, through international legal frameworks and long-standing defence arrangements.

UK High Commissioner to Malaysia Ajay Sharma said this includes the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), a security partnership involving Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as adherence to global norms such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which underpins maritime stability in the region.

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“As part of our relationship with Malaysia, we are working bilaterally, regionally and internationally to promote stability and create the conditions for economic growth.

“Through agreements such as the law of the sea, and cooperation with Malaysia and other countries in the region, we aim to ensure that international agreements are respected and that any differences are resolved diplomatically and through dialogue,” Sharma told Bernama after appearing on the Bernama TV programme The Diplomatic Dispatch on Thursday.

Established in 1971, the FPDA is a multilateral security arrangement formed in the context of Britain’s military withdrawal from the ‘East of Suez’, to support the defence and stability of Malaysia and Singapore following their respective independence and separation.

Since its establishment over 50 years ago, the FPDA has evolved to cover a broader range of security tasks, including air defence, maritime security, and counter-terrorism, as demonstrated in major annual exercises.

Sharma noted that ASEAN plays an essential role in fostering inclusive dialogue and multilateral cooperation on regional and global challenges.

“ASEAN is great because it brings together, with ASEAN centrality and inclusivity at its heart, a group of countries that we in the UK can engage with on a range of important issues.

“A lot is happening in the world, and we want to ensure that the rule of law and international institutions remain strong to allow these matters to be resolved peacefully,” he said.

On the upcoming 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings taking place in Kuala Lumpur soon, Sharma said the UK is looking to strengthen its engagement with the regional bloc by supporting ASEAN-led initiatives and deepening collaboration across a broad range of sectors.

“We have been a Dialogue Partner since 2021, and we are very keen to develop a stronger relationship with ASEAN.

“Asia is the future, and we want to be part of that future. Working with organisations like ASEAN, and especially with Malaysia during its chairmanship, is a real priority for us,” he added.

The UK was granted Dialogue Partner status by ASEAN on Aug 5, 2021, becoming the first new Dialogue Partner for ASEAN in 25 years.

The 58th AMM and the subsequent Post‑Ministerial Conference (PMC) are scheduled for July 8 to 11 in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA