September 26, 2024
VIENTIANE – ASEAN Defence Seniors are preparing to enhance security cooperation for the upcoming 18th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM).
This includes the 11th ADMM-Plus, which will see leaders in discussion under the theme “ASEAN: Together for Peace, Security and Resilience”.
Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Lao People’s Army under the Ministry of National Defence, Major General Somphone Mittaphone, said on September25, the ASEAN Defence Seniors meeting is being convened at a time when the region and the world face complex and unpredictable security challenges, such as major power rivalry and conflicts in various regions.
“These issues have had a severe impact on regional peace, security and development. At this juncture, we should continue to strengthen cooperation to further our capabilities to respond to these security challenges,” he said.
Today’s meeting is an important opportunity for ASEAN members to discuss ways forward for the enhancement of cooperation, and mutual trust and confidence, he added.
The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN.
The meeting aims to promote mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defence and security challenges as well as the enhancement of transparency and openness, and promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and cooperation in the fields of defence and security.
The meeting will provide additional guidance to senior defence and military officials’ dialogue and cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its dialogue partners.
Talks will contribute to the establishment of an ASEAN Security Community (ASC) as stipulated in the Bali Concord II and promote the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme on ASC.