The 14th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum

On February 11, 2025, the JMOD/SDF held the 14th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum.

The Forum was chaired by Mr. Kano, Japan’s Vice-Minister of Defense for International Affairs. Participants from ASEAN Member States (AMS)* and the ASEAN Secretariat attended the Forum, and Timor-Leste, which AMS agreed in-principle to be admitted as a member of ASEAN, joined the Forum as an observer.

*On this occasion, ASEAN Member States Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam participated.

During the Forum, Defense Vice-Ministers reviewed achievements of specific defense cooperation under the “Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Initiative for Enhanced Defense Cooperation: JASMINE,” which Japan proposed at the 8th ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting held in November 2023, and had a candid discussion towards implementing the new projects. Bilateral meetings with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, and the ASEAN Secretariat were also held on the sidelines of the Forum.

A summary of the Forum is as follows.

• Amid the security environment that is facing severe challenges, Japan emphasized that ASEAN’s role is growing as it leads regional security cooperation in the region.
• Moreover, Japan underscored that “JASMINE” is an initiative that strongly supports the realization of Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, the visions that share the fundamental principles.
• On that basis, Japan reviewed its specific efforts with ASEAN under “JASMINE” and made a presentation on possibilities for defense cooperation to be promoted in the future.
• ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat made presentations on the future Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation towards peace and stability in the region, and the participants had a constructive exchange of views.
• Through the Forum, the participants affirmed that Japan and ASEAN countries would continue to cooperate based on the four pillars of JASMINE to further contribute to the peace and stability of the region.

* See Annex for achievements under JASMINE.