Asean must strengthen cohesion

Since its founding in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has cultivated a reputation for trust and dialogue that has made the region synonymous with peace, stability, and dynamism.

- ANWAR IBRAHIM

The achievements of our ten member states — soon to be eleven with Timor-Leste’s expected admission later in 2025 — are rooted in a culture of consensus, open communication, and solidarity. This tradition of cooperation has enabled Asean to manage tensions, prevent conflict, and nurture prosperity across one of the world’s most diverse regions.

Asean's spirit of solidarity was tested recently when Malaysia, the group’s current chair, convened the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand amid violent clashes along their border. Through careful listening, principled mediation, and the constructive involvement of both the United States and China, the parties secured an immediate ceasefire. The episode reaffirmed not only the enduring value of dialogue and mutual respect but also the confidence that Asean’s citizens place in the association as a custodian of peace and stability.

As great-power rivalries escalate, geo-economic competition intensifies, and confidence in multilateralism erodes, Asean faces a changed world. In such an environment, Asean’s centrality is not merely a diplomatic aspiration — it is an existential necessity.

Established amid the turbulence of the Cold War, Asean has long stood for peace, neutrality, and stability. The 46th Asean Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur in May, reaffirmed that mission while marking a historic milestone: the unanimous decision to welcome Timor-Leste as our eleventh member, deepening Asean’s commitment to inclusivity and unity.