As in other international defense forums, the substance of discussions is not expected to make headlines. Only parades displaying military hardware and firepower usually do so, such as the “anointment” ceremony held in North Korea this week or the procurement of expensive but faulty military equipment. Perhaps it is because of a perception that military cooperation should always be low key, conducted in secrecy and discussed on a “need-to-know” basis.

The presence of defense ministers from one of the world’s most dynamic regions at a meeting with US defense secretary Robert Gates, Indian defense minister A.K. Antony and their counterparts from Russia, China and South Korea is remarkable. The discussion of a balanced, open and inclusive security architecture for the region should be considered, the very least, a milestone in global defense cooperation. 

ADMM Plus is perhaps the first grouping of its kind, excluding formal security alliances such as NATO.

In its formal and inclusive setting, ADMM Plus is by no means an alliance, but it is a golden opportunity to clear up perceived threats, build upon the “friendly ties with old foes” that Gates mentioned in reference to Vietnam and even find room for expanded technology-based military cooperation among countries.

It is fertile ground for a potential “unspoken alliance” between countries to solve pending defense issues — or at least to develop the trust and confidence that the countries hope to build.

No one could have imagined that ADMM Plus would actually do things that may well constitute preliminary steps towards building an expanded Southeast Asia community, or “ASEAN Plus Eight”, with the inclusion of the United States and Russia. To imagine that this would come from the defense sector!
 The futures of the Asia-Pacific region’s countries are obviously intertwined. In security and defense, ASEAN will remain an important player. 

 

Natapanu Nopakun
Bangkok

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