BANGKOK, Friday, 22 March 2024 — The 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security (ADMM-Plus EWG on MS) has successfully convened, which was held on 19-22 March 2024 at the Pullman G Hotel, Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand. In attendance were Lieutenant Commander Norlaila binti Harlip, RBN, Staff Officer Grade 2, J3 Navy, Joint Force Headquarters Royal Brunei Armed Forces (JFH RBAF), and Dr. Norhermy Hidayat binti Ahmad Sah, Research Officer from the Directorate of Defence Policy, Ministry of Defence.
The meeting was Co-Chaired by General Paiboon Vorravanpreecha, Director General of the Office of Policy and Planning, Ministry of Defence from the Kingdom of Thailand, and Ms. Lindsey W. Ford, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia, from the Department of Defence of the United States of America.
A total of 61 participants consisting of representatives from all ASEAN member states, ASEAN-Plus countries, ASEAN Secretariat, and Timor-Leste as an observer, had actively engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing maritime security in the region.
The meeting commenced with a review of the achievements throughout the 19th ADMM-Plus EWG on MS and the three-year work program from 2021 to 2023. Under the theme "Strengthening Maritime Security Cooperation for Sustainable Development of ASEAN Member States’ Economies" the Co-Chairs emphasised the collaborative efforts between the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States of America towards achieving the key objectives which includes developing an ADMM-Plus EWG on MS Roadmap, fostering greater understanding on regional security issues, and enhancing ASEAN-led maritime security mechanisms.
The main agenda of the meeting was the exchanged of views on "ASEAN Defence Cooperation Towards Blue Economy" which underlined the importance of regional maritime security for sustainable economic development.
Throughout the meeting, three distinguished guest speakers also shared valuable insights on various topics specifically on the "Environmental Protection for Sustainable Blue Economy" emphasising the need to prioritise environmental preservation for human health delivered by Captain Penchai Insingha, from the Royal Thai Naval Strategic Studies Centre. Ms. Ashley Woodson representing the Defence Security Cooperation Agency focused on "Climate Resilience" and its implications for human security and finally Rear Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Q Expeleta, Chief of Naval Staff of the Philippine Navy, presented on "Blue Economy" stressing the role of international cooperation in addressing challenges such as climate change, overfishing, maritime security crimes and marine pollution.
Towards the end of the meeting, the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States of America announced the Co-Chairs for the next cycle of 2024-2027, whereby the Republic of the Philippines will be Co-hosting with Japan. A handing over ceremony of the ADMM-Plus EWG on MS to the new Co-Chairs officially marks the conclusion of the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States of America’s Chairmanship.
MESYUARAT MENTERI-MENTERI PERTAHANAN
ASEAN PLUS (ADMM-PLUS) KUMPULAN KERJA PAKAR KESELAMATAN MARITIM KALI KE-20 DAN MAJLIS PENYERAHAN
BANGKOK, Jumaat, 22 Mac 2024 — Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan
ASEAN Plus Kumpulan Kerja Pakar Keselamatan Maritim (ADMM-Plus EWG on MS) ke-20 telah dengan jayanya dilaksanakan pada 19-22 Mac 2024 bertempat di Hotel Pullman G, Bangkok, Kerajaan Thailand. Hadir bagi mesyuarat tersebut ialah Leftenan Komander Norlaila binti Harlip, TLDB, Timbalan Pegawai Turus J3 Laut, Markas Angkatan Bersama Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (MAB ABDB), dan Dr. Norhermy Hidayat biti Ahmad Sah, Pegawai Penyelidik, Jabatanarah Dasar Pertahanan, Kementerian Pertahanan.
Mesyuarat berkenaan telah dipengerusikan bersama oleh Jeneral Paiboon Vorravanpreecha, Ketua Pengarah Pejabat Dasar dan Perancangan, Kementerian Pertahanan Kerajaan Thailand, dan Puan Lindsey W. Ford, Timbalan Penolong Setiausaha Pertahanan bagi Asia Selatan dan Tenggara daripada Jabatan Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat.
Seramai 61 peserta yang terdiri daripada semua negara-negara ASEAN, negara-negara ASEAN-Plus, Sekretariat ASEAN dan Timor-Leste selaku pemerhati terlibat secara aktif dalam perbincangan semasa mesyuarat tersebut yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan keselamatan maritim di rantau ini.
Mesyuarat dimulakan dengan mengimbas kembali pencapaian
ADMM-Plus EWGMS ke-19 dan program kerja selama tiga tahun dari tahun 2021 hingga 2023. Di bawah tema "Memperkukuh Kerjasama Keselamatan Maritim untuk Pembangunan Mampan Ekonomi Negara Anggota ASEAN" Pengerusi bersama telah menekankan usaha kerjasama antara Kerajaan Thailand dan Amerika Syarikat ke arah mencapai objektif utama termasuk membangunkan
ADMM-Plus EWG pada Pelan Hala Tuju
MS, memupuk pemahaman yang lebih mendalam tentang isu keselamatan serantau dan meningkatkan mekanisme keselamatan maritim pimpinan ASEAN.
Agenda utama dalam mesyuarat tersebut ialah pertukaran pandangan mengenai "Kerjasama Pertahanan ASEAN ke arah Ekonomi Biru" yang menggariskan kepentingan keselamatan maritim serantau untuk pembangunan ekonomi yang mampan.
Sepanjang mesyuarat itu juga, tiga pembentang jemputan turut mengkongsikan pandangan tentang pelbagai topik iaitu Kapten Penchai Insingha, dari Pusat Kajian Strategik Tentera Laut Diraja Thai telah membincangkan mengenai "Perlindungan Alam Sekitar untuk Ekonomi Biru Mampan" yang menekankan keperluan untuk mengutamakan pemeliharaan alam sekitar untuk kesihatan manusia. Puan Ashley Woodson, wakil daripada Agensi Kerjasama Keselamatan Pertahanan menyampaikan topik "Ketahanan Iklim" dan implikasi iklim terhadap keselamatan manusia dan terakhir sekali Laksamana Muda Jose Ma Ambrosio Q Expeleta, Ketua Turus Tentera Laut Filipina telah membentangkan mengenai "Ekonomi Biru," menekankan peranan kerjasama antarabangsa dalam menangani cabaran seperti perubahan iklim, penangkapan ikan yang berlebihan, jenayah keselamatan maritim dan pencemaran marin.
Diakhir mesyuarat tersebut, Kerajaan Thailand dan Amerika Syarikat mengumumkan Pengerusi Bersama yang baru bagi kitaran tahun 2024-2027, di mana Republik Filipina akan menjadi tuan rumah bersama Jepun. Majlis penyerahan bagi Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan
ASEAN Plus Kumpulan Kerja Pakar Keselamatan Maritim kepada Pengerusi Bersama baharu secara rasmi menandakan tamatnya bagi Kerajaan Thailand dan Amerika Syarikat mempengerusi mesyuarat tersebut.
