LANGKAWI, January 27 — ASEAN will continue to forge its own path despite rising superpower competition in the region, reaffirmed Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat. Highlighting Southeast Asia’s geo-strategic importance, cultural versatility, and economic weight, Mohamad emphasised the bloc’s role as an independent force in global affairs.
“Our region has become a focal point for superpower competition because of its massive potential,” he said at the Langkawi International Convention Centre. Mohamad urged ASEAN to assert its role as the primary platform for regional solutions, stressing that the bloc’s strength lies in fostering dialogue and trust rather than relying solely on military or economic might.
Mohamad expressed optimism that ASEAN’s dialogue partners would engage diplomatically, acknowledging the region’s US$3.8 trillion GDP and 677-million-strong population. He cautioned against external pressures that could challenge ASEAN centrality, calling for robust preparation to maintain the bloc’s role as a stabilising force in the shifting global order.
