31 January 2025
Multilateral Matters – January 2025
ASEAN LOOKS TO 2025 AND BEYOND
2025 will be very important for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as it is set to conclude the implementation of its current ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Subsequently, it will also formalise its next Vision statements for the ASEAN Political Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Sociocultural Community. With the region aiming for stronger regional cooperation and harmonisation over the next decade and beyond, how can ASEAN maintain its central role in regional affairs amidst current geopolitical challenges and emerging developments?
Featured Commentary
Amidst Geopolitical Uncertainties, How Has ASEAN Fared? by Nazia Hussain
This quarter’s featured commentary by Nazia Hussain, Associate Research Fellow at CMS, explores ASEAN’s performance in the past year in maintaining peace and stability in Myanmar and the South China Sea. Moving into 2025, ASEAN also needs to confront extra-regional trends brought by Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the expansion of the BRICS group. According to Ms Hussain, the key is for ASEAN to “press ahead” with its community-building goals with “astute and cohesive” leadership.
CMS Events
- On 10 October, CMS hosted a webinar entitled “AI Governance: Should Domestic or International Policy Lead?”, where guest speakers shared their thoughts on how governments and multilateral organisations like ASEAN or the UN can align to best tackle challenging policy questions in AI governance.
- On 24 October, CMS explored the current state of the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership in maritime security, supply chain resilience, and foreign direct investment, as well as prospects for further cooperation in cybersecurity and the digital economy in a webinar entitled “Advancing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the Face of Geopolitical Challenges”.
- On 1 November, RSIS and the International Peace Institute (IPI) held the Singapore launch for their report entitled “Small States and the Multilateral System: Transforming Global Governance” at NTU@one-north.
ASEAN LOOKS TO 2025 AND BEYOND
2025 will be very important for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as it is set to conclude the implementation of its current ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Subsequently, it will also formalise its next Vision statements for the ASEAN Political Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Sociocultural Community. With the region aiming for stronger regional cooperation and harmonisation over the next decade and beyond, how can ASEAN maintain its central role in regional affairs amidst current geopolitical challenges and emerging developments?
Featured Commentary
Amidst Geopolitical Uncertainties, How Has ASEAN Fared? by Nazia Hussain
This quarter’s featured commentary by Nazia Hussain, Associate Research Fellow at CMS, explores ASEAN’s performance in the past year in maintaining peace and stability in Myanmar and the South China Sea. Moving into 2025, ASEAN also needs to confront extra-regional trends brought by Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the expansion of the BRICS group. According to Ms Hussain, the key is for ASEAN to “press ahead” with its community-building goals with “astute and cohesive” leadership.
CMS Events
- On 10 October, CMS hosted a webinar entitled “AI Governance: Should Domestic or International Policy Lead?”, where guest speakers shared their thoughts on how governments and multilateral organisations like ASEAN or the UN can align to best tackle challenging policy questions in AI governance.
- On 24 October, CMS explored the current state of the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership in maritime security, supply chain resilience, and foreign direct investment, as well as prospects for further cooperation in cybersecurity and the digital economy in a webinar entitled “Advancing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the Face of Geopolitical Challenges”.
- On 1 November, RSIS and the International Peace Institute (IPI) held the Singapore launch for their report entitled “Small States and the Multilateral System: Transforming Global Governance” at NTU@one-north.
