The second NADI meeting was organized by the Strategic Research Institute (SRI), National Defence Studies Institute of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters from 2-5 November 2008 in Bangsaen, Thailand.

Following the welcome remarks by Major General Wisith Jeangprajak, Director of the SRI, Ambassador Barry Desker,  Dean, RSIS, made an Opening Address. Ambassador Desker urged the participants to contribute by thinking ahead of the curve and anticipate possible security challenges and to generate relevant and timely suggestions for cooperation for ADSOM and the Asean Defence Track. He called on the participants to participate in their personal capacity so as to give free reign to new ideas about defence and security issues beyond their governments’ positions in order to provide useful suggestions for the Asean Defence Track.

Ambassador Desker also suggested that in their exchange of views on regional security and political outlook, they should discuss challenges facing the region from both the traditional and non –traditional security issues . He shared Major General Wisith’s view that they should discuss the  roles  the Asean militaries could play in non-traditional security challenges. He urged participants to discuss closer Asean military cooperation to ensure maritime security, disaster relief and emergency operations for humanitarian assistance as well as holding workshops, seminars  or table–top exercises to facilitate closer cooperation.

The NADI participants had a substantive exchange of views and discussions on regional security and political outlook. They discussed Asean defence and security cooperation and recommendations for cooperation as well as the production of an Asean Annual Defence and Security Outlook by the Asean defence track.

The participants noted Thailand’s briefing on the ten global security trends and echange views on traditional and non-tradtional security issues (NTS) in particular the impact of the US financial crisis on the Asean region. The participants noted that East Asia was relatively stable and prospects for inter-state wars within the region appeared remote. The threats facing Asean countries were more trans-national and NTS issues, and maritime security in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore and the safety of navigation in the Straits and the South China Sea.

The meeting agreed that it would be useful to develop specific civil and military points of contacts in Asean member countries to expedite communications and responses in times of disaster or crisis. A register of Asean contact points including personnel and contact details should be compiled and updated regularly. In this way Asean civil and military authorities could work out clear procedures for cooperation and coordination to facilitate quick responses in times of crisis.

The meeting recommended that in order to be more effective in monitoring and coordinating efforts among Asean member countries in non-traditional security and trans-national issues, Asean governments could consider the establishment of an Asean Crisis Monitoring and Coordination Centre. The meeting also recommended that a seminar or workshop to discuss various aspects of crisis management and peacekeeping including proper operational procedures, assets capabilities, requirements and availability for expeditious responses.

The meeting recognised the importance of networking and confidence building as well as improving working relationships among top defence officials of Asean Defence ministries and in this regard they recommended an annual retreat of Permanent Secretaries and senior policy officials of the Asean Defence Ministries.

The participants also recognised that the Asean militaries could play a significant role in addressing and managing non-traditional security issues like humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), peacekeeping operations (PKO) and maritime security. They agreed to organise workshops, seminars and table-top exercises that would help to build confidence and trust as well as enhancing cooperation, not only between states and governments, but also between defence establishments and civil society organizations.

The participants agreed that while the defence and security institutions would form the core of NADI delegations, representatives of other institutions and organisations interested in defence and security issues, could be included in future NADI meetings, seminars and workshops.

The meeting discussed and made substantive recommendations on the scope, contents, and format for the Asean Annual Defence and Security Outlook for consideration of the ADSOM and Asean Defence Track.

The Second NADI Chairman’s Report is in the list of NADI documents below.

1. Welcome Remarks by MG Wisith Jeangprajak, Director-General, Strategic Research Institute (SRI) , National Defence Studies Institute, RTAF Supreme Command Headquarters, Thailand.
2. Opening Address by Ambassador Barry Desker, Dean, RSIS.
3. Chairman’s Report of the second NADI meeting.