Southeast Asian defense ministers aim for proactive engagement amid security threats --Teodoro

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

Southeast Asian defense ministers have agreed to be more proactive in engaging as security threats become more unpredictable, said Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday.

“I think what is also significant is that defense leaders realize that security threats are becoming more unpredictable,” he said during a press briefing at the sidelines of ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu.

“I think there is unanimous consensus that ASEAN defense ministers meet and the plus must be more proactive in engaging and hopefully more participative in engaging in the number of fields or topics that we discuss, we study together,” he added.

During the meeting, the Philippine defense chief said that ASEAN defense leaders adopted several initiatives.

“These include principally promoting exchanges among our younger and upcoming defense leaders and military leaders, strengthening our individual and collective resilience against chemical, biological, and radiological threats,” said Teodoro.

Moreover, Teodoro said that there is no such thing as “quick wins” in dealing with security issues.

“Well, we don't have quick wins in ASEAN. It is a process of engaging because it is a consensus-based organization,” he said.

The Philippines is hosting the 20th ADMM and the 13th ADMM-Plus on October 28 and 29 in
Cebu.

ADMM is ASEAN's highest defense consultative and cooperative mechanism, according to the Department of National Defense (DND).

The ADMM-Plus expands defense cooperation to eight dialogue partners including Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. —NB, GMA News