Defense officials from 27 countries gathered Monday for the 2026 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Defense Officials’ Dialogue, as the Philippines and New Zealand led discussions on strengthening regional security cooperation amid evolving geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
The virtual meeting centered on improving coordination among ASEAN-led defense mechanisms as countries across the region confront increasingly complex security and strategic challenges.
Representing the Philippines, Department of National Defense Office for International Affairs Director Faysaleyyah Abdullah said many of the security concerns present during the creation of the ARF in 1994 remain unresolved, but noted that current geopolitical developments have heightened the need for closer regional coordination.
The Philippine delegation pushed for stronger defense cooperation under the ARF framework and improved coordination between ASEAN-led security initiatives, including the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus.
Participating countries also exchanged recommendations on how to keep regional defense engagements effective and responsive amid shifting security dynamics across the Indo-Pacific.
The dialogue included preparations for the 23rd ARF Security Policy Conference and discussions on aligning future initiatives with the ARF Ha Noi Plan of Action II for 2020 to 2025 and its successor framework currently being developed.
The ASEAN Regional Forum remains one of the region’s primary multilateral platforms for political and security dialogue, bringing together ASEAN member-states and key international partners to address regional peace and stability issues.