Saudi Arabia joins ASEAN amity pact
Bloc welcomes Gulf nation to treaty group amid call for regional stability
Saudi Arabia became the 51st country to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) as Indonesia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), called for regional peace and stability.
The accession of Saudi Arabia to the TAC “reflects Saudi’s strong commitment to abide by ASEAN values and principle as enshrined in the TAC,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, or AMM, in Jakarta on July 12.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The TAC is a peace treaty signed in 1976 among ASEAN member states. It aims to promote stability and security in the region by creating guidelines for peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation.
The treaty has been amended three times in 1987, 1998, and 2010 to allow for accession by states outside Southeast Asia as well as for regional organizations whose members are sovereign states.
China officially acceded to the TAC in October 2003, becoming the first major extraterritorial country to do so and setting the precedent for other non-ASEAN nations to follow and join the treaty.
Noting that the values and principles of the TAC are even more critical amid current geopolitical dynamics, Marsudi said the bloc welcomes Saudi Arabia to the ASEAN family.
“Together, we must serve as a positive force for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Marsudi, adding that she looks forward to the first summit between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council in October.
In the plenary session of the 56th AMM on July 11, members also discussed the increasing number of requests from countries to accede to the TAC.
The signing of the TAC by Panama, Spain and Mexico is tentatively planned to take place at the 43rd
ASEAN Summit in September.
Before the signing ceremony, ASEAN foreign ministers met to discuss the Myanmar crisis, a lingering problem for the region’s peace and stability.
The bloc came up with a five-point consensus peace plan in April 2021 after the military took state power in Myanmar that February. It included a call for an immediate cessation of violence and inclusive political dialogue involving all parties.
Marsudi said it is high time to encourage dialogue among all stakeholders as it can pave the way to a political solution, which could eventually lead to durable peace.
Noting that ASEAN is still very concerned about the ongoing violence in Myanmar, she said all members at the meeting agreed on the importance
of promoting dialogue to resolve the crisis.
ASEAN urges all parties to stop violent actions as it is key for creating conducive conditions for starting dialogues and providing humanitarian assistance, said Marsudi, adding that the principle of “no one left behind” should be key when it comes to humanitarian aid.
The ministers also discussed building inclusive regional architecture as they emphasized the importance of cooperation in the region for peace, stability and prosperity, said Marsudi.
“Together, we must serve as a positive force for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.” RETNO MARSUDI Indonesia’s foreign minister