Malaysia strengthens defense ties at ASEAN meeting

During the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in Cebu, Philippines, Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin emphasized the need for a more proactive and coordinated regional approach to address increasingly complex and interconnected security threats.

Nordin stated that ASEAN must move beyond traditional methods to face non-traditional threats and enhance regional disaster response capabilities. He noted that no single member state can manage these evolving challenges alone.

On the sidelines of the summit, Nordin held bilateral meetings with South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-Chul to discuss defense industry development and regional security. He also met with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, welcoming continued US commitment to supporting ASEAN's integrity and regional security mechanisms.