Kuala lumpur: No meaningful dialogue or engagement regarding Indo-Pacific security can take place without a peaceful and united ASEAN, Malaysia's Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said today. He underscored that Southeast Asia sits at the geographical and strategic heart of the Indo-Pacific, making ASEAN's stability fundamental to the peace and security of the wider region.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamed Khaled reminded all external partners and global powers that ASEAN's established security architecture must remain the primary conduit for any substantive discourse on the Indo-Pacific. He emphasized the importance of Southeast Asia remaining a Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality (ZOPFAN). "We do not believe that peace requires us to choose sides. Rather, peace requires us to engage all and respect all, while remaining strictly guided by our core principles and national interests," he stated.
The Defence Minister made these remarks during his opening address at the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) 37th Annual International Military Law and Operations Conference (MILOPS) 2026, held at a local hotel. He elaborated that nations seeking to engage with ASEAN must fully understand and respect the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which serves as ASEAN's code of conduct.
Mohamed Khaled highlighted that the TAC embodies core principles such as mutual respect, peaceful dispute settlement, non-interference, and constructive cooperation. He noted that ASEAN's success over the decades is due to its neutrality and non-aligned stance, fostering diverse cultures, religions, and systems while building investor confidence and prosperity.
Addressing the military leaders, practitioners, and legal experts present, the minister reflected on the true purpose of armed forces in modern geopolitics, stating that the military's role is to prevent war and conflict. He urged major global powers with significant military capabilities to act as custodians of global peace and stability, respecting international law and rules-based order.
The 37th MILOPS conference aims to bring together defense leaders, military officials, legal scholars, and policymakers from across the Indo-Pacific to foster professional trust, mutual understanding, and regional stability.