ASEAN defence ministers meet in Bangkok to discuss regional cooperation

Reuters - Defence ministers and senior military officers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met at a joint conference in Bangkok on Thursday (July 11) where they discussed how the organization can promote collective peace, security and sustainability. Thailand, as this year's host, proposed four main measures in the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers meeting, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, upgrading the ASEAN medical centre, joint peacekeeping exercises and anti-terrorism missions. Defence ministers also collectively signed a Joint Declaration on Sustainable Security. Formed more than 50 years ago, ASEAN has historically struggled with challenges facing the region because it works only by consensus and is reluctant to become involved in any matter regarded as internal to a member state. The ministers from the 10 ASEAN nations also attended a meeting with Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday morning at Government House.