The European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held their 25th ministerial meeting, on Tuesday 28 April in Brunei, marked by a firm commitment to deepening their strategic partnership in the face of global crises. In a joint statement published the same day, the two blocs underscore their increasingly “interlinked” security policies, particularly under the pressure of tensions in the Middle East.
The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, who co-chaired the meeting, warned that “in today’s global landscape, none of our countries can afford to stand alone”. Referring to the conflict between Iran and Israel, she pointed out that “higher energy prices hurt both Europe as well as Asia”..
Faced with the interest of certain ASEAN countries in Russian oil, the High Representative insisted that oil revenues were “the revenues that Russia is using to fund this war (in Ukraine)” and advocated for “diversifying resources”.
Security and maritime cooperation. Maritime safety dominated the discussions, with the ministers reaffirming their “unwavering commitment” to compliance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The two regions intend to intensify their collaboration in critical areas such as “counter-terrorism and cyber defence (...) and critical and maritime infrastructure protection”.. In particular, the EU highlighted its projects funded through the Global Gateway strategy, covering “coast guard training” and the fight against transnational crime, in particular online “scam centres”, which are proliferating in South-East Asia.
Towards a free trade agreement. Economically, ASEAN remains the EU’s third-largest trading partner outside the continent, with trade worth around €400 billion in 2024. The ministers welcomed the progress made in bilateral negotiations with Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. In the longer term, the objective remains the conclusion of a “region-to-region” free trade agreement.
The meeting also served as a springboard for the 50th anniversary of Dialogue Relations in 2027, when it was proposed to convene a “Commemorative Summit”. The two parties expressed their desire to elevate their partnership to the level of a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” (CSP).
Regional crises and multilateralism. The ministers expressed their “deep concern” at the escalation of violence in Myanmar, establishing the ASEAN “Five-Point Consensus” as the main reference for a political solution.
They also denounced the missile tests carried out by North Korea, “in violation of relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions”.
The EU and ASEAN should be an “anchor of stability”, said Kaja Kallas, calling for the international system to be reformed so that it includes more emerging powers and “reflects the world as it is”. (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)