BANGKOK, 16 July 2019 (NNT) – The Ministry of Defense of Thailand has used the theme of Sustainable Security for the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), which took place in Bangkok this year. Key concept papers the ministry proposed to the meeting included:
1. A Concept Paper on Guidelines for Assessment of the ADMM Initiatives. This concept paper seeks to create guidelines for ASEAN’s stronger and more efficient security cooperation.
2. A Concept Paper on the Role of ASEAN Defense Establishments in Supporting Border Management. The objective of this concept paper is to enhance cooperation to tackle cross-border threats for the benefit of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), civil societies within ASEAN, and ASEAN culture.
3. A Concept Paper on the Expansion of ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI) in the ADMM Process to the Plus Countries. This concept paper is aimed at creating awareness of the effects on security of the problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and proposing guidelines for the military’s support for solutions to IUU fishing.
The meeting also approved ADMM Guidelines for Maritime Interaction in response to security threats in the region.
The Defense Ministers of ASEAN member states signed a joint declaration on sustainable security to show their intention to strengthen ASEAN’s security cooperation in a sustainable manner. After the meeting, the delegates paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, at Government House, Bangkok. The Prime Minister commended the success of ASEAN’s defense cooperation within the last ADMM framework, and expressed his confidence that the close cooperation of the ASEAN Defense Ministers will play a pivotal role in strengthening ASEAN’s international standing.
During the 13th ADMM, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, attended bilateral talks with the ASEAN Defense Ministers and the ASEAN Secretary-General. Gen. Prawit thanked the member states for their support for Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship, and an ASEAN Center of Military Medicine, as well as ADMM and ADMM-Plus events throughout this year.
Source: National News Bureau of Thailand
