Kuala Lumpur: Asean has underscored the importance of continuous engagement in defence diplomacy, emphasising the need to uphold international law when addressing complex territorial conflicts including the South China Sea, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, as the ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia highlighted the critical role of maintaining multilateral maritime cooperation while emphasising the adherence to international law, especially the law of the sea. "We do have multilateral maritime cooperation that will continue. However, at the same time we stress the need for every country, be it an ASEAN member state or not, to always uphold international laws and laws of the sea," said Mohamed Khaled at a press conference after chairing the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) 2025.
He stated that while there are many military maritime exercises between ASEAN countries and nations outside of ASEAN, it is crucial to ensure these activities do not lead to escalations in conflict. Diplomacy, he noted, would also serve as a solution to addressing the Myanmar issue, as guided by the heads of ASEAN governments.
Mohamed Khaled also brought attention to the need for greater focus on the protection of undersea cable infrastructure, referencing a recent incident where underwater power cables were severed in the Baltic Sea. He emphasized that ASEAN should prioritize the defence of undersea cables in the region, incorporating this issue within the broader ADMM framework.
Furthermore, Mohamed Khaled confirmed that the Russian Security Council had reached out to Malaysia, requesting meetings with him and other top Malaysian officials. It was reported that Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu is on a working visit to Indonesia and Malaysia from February 24 to 28 to discuss security and defence issues.
Over 150 delegates from ASEAN member states, including Timor-Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat, are expected to attend the retreat, which is being held in conjunction with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability." Malaysia will host over 300 ASEAN-related meetings, programmes, and summits throughout the year. The country previously chaired ASEAN in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.