"ASEAN+1" AS A MECHANISM OF ASEAN COOPERATIVE SECURITY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2292.2025/2-61/55-64Keywords:
ASEAN, ASEAN+1, Asia-Pacific, cooperative security, ASEAN Regional Forum, East Asia SummitAbstract
Background. One of the key mechanisms of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) influence on the security of the Asia-Pacific has been the “ASEAN+1” format, aimed at developing dialogue with the leading states of the region. The preconditions for its emergence lay in ASEAN’s aspiration to integrate external partners into regional processes on the basis of cooperative security principles, enshrined in particular in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
Under conditions of growing competition between major powers and the existence of potential conflicts in the Asia-Pacific, it is the “ASEAN+1” format that provides institutional channels for maintaining dialogue and security cooperation.
The purpose of the article is to analyze the effectiveness of the “ASEAN+1” mechanism as a tool of cooperative security and to trace the evolution of ASEAN’s dialogue partnerships with Asia-Pacific countries.
Methods. The research employed the problem-chronological and institutional analysis methods.
Results. It is shown that the “ASEAN+1” format has become a platform for institutionalizing the principles of cooperative security. The accession of ASEAN’s dialogue partners to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia guaranteed their commitment to regional norms. Each partnership has evolved from limited consultations to developed cooperation mechanisms – strategic and comprehensive partnerships, regular summits, joint exercises, and involvement in ASEAN forums such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. In particular, PRC, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and the United States have elevated their relations with ASEAN to the level of comprehensive strategic partnerships. Cooperation covered not only maritime security, counter-terrorism, and cyber threat response but also peacekeeping, disaster response, and mitigation of their consequences.
Conclusions. The “ASEAN+1” format has proven its effectiveness as a mechanism of cooperative security, creating institutional channels for reducing tensions and enhancing trust. Despite geopolitical rivalry between major powers, particularly the United States and PRC, ASEAN has retained the ability to integrate partners into multilateral formats while avoiding bloc confrontation. Thus, “ASEAN+1” stands as an important instrument for supporting regional stability and building an inclusive security architecture in Asia-Pacific.
References
ASEAN. (2010). Joint Statement of the Second ASEAN-Russian Federation Summit. https://asean.org/joint-statement-of-the-second-asean-russian-federation-summit
ASEAN. (2020). Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-New Zealand Strategic Partnership (2021-2025). https://asean.org/plan-of-action-to-implement-the-asean-new-zealand-strategic-partnership-2021-2025-2
ASEAN. (2021). Overview of ASEAN–Canada Dialogue Relations. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Overview-of-ASEAN-Canada-Dialogue-Relations-as-of-October-2021-ERD2.pdf
ASEAN. (2024). Overview of ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Overview-of-ASEAN-Australia-CSP_as-of-August-2024.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). External Relations: Overview. https://asean.org/our-communities/asean-political-security-community/outward-looking-community/external-relations
ASEAN. (2025). Overview of ASEAN–China Dialogue Relations. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Overview-ASEAN-China-Dialogue-Relations-as-of-30-June-2025.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). Overview of ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Overview-of-ASEAN-Japan-CSP-full-versionas-of-June-2025.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). Overview of ASEAN–Canada Dialogue Relations. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Overview-of-ASEAN-Canada-Dialogue-Relations-as-of-June-2025.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). Overview of ASEAN–European Union Dialogue Relations. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Overview-ASEAN-EU-Dialogue-Relations-as-of-July-2025.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). Overview of ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Overview-ASEAN-New-Zealand-Dialogue-Relations-as-of-30-June-2025.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). Overview Paper of ASEAN–Republic of Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Overview-Paper-of-ASEAN-ROK-CSP-as-of-June-2025.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). Overview: ASEAN–Russia Dialogue Relations. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Overview-ASEAN-Russia-Dialogue-Relations-as-of-June-2025.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). Overview: ASEAN-United Kingdom Dialogue Relations. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Overview-on-ASEAN-UK-Dialogue-Relations-as-of-July-2025.pdf
ASEAN. (2025). Overview: ASEAN-United States Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Overview-of-ASEAN-U.S.-Dialogue-Relations-as-of-June-2025.pdf
Asri, A. (2023). ASEAN Member States Responses to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Jurnal Mengkaji Indonesia, 2(2), 265–284. https://doi.org/10.59066/jmi.v2i2.446
Bentley, J. G. (2025). Deepening Canada-ASEAN Security Co-operation in the Face of Geopolitical Headwinds. Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. https://www.asiapacific.ca/publication/deepening-canada-asean-security-cooperation-face
Hidetoshi, N. (2017). Snapshots of the ASEAN Story: ASEAN’s Strategic Policy Needs and Dialogue Partners’ Contributions. ASEAN @ 50 Volume 1: The ASEAN Journey: Reflections of ASEAN Leaders and Officials: Т. 1. The ASEAN Journey: Reflections of ASEAN Leaders and Officials (с. 315–348). Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia. https://www.eria.org/asean50-vol.1-42.nishimura.pdf
Hussian, M. E. (2023). ASEAN-China Defense Cooperation: Recent Developments. The Geopolitics. https://thegeopolitics.com/asean-china-defense-cooperation-recent-developments
Laksmana, E. A., & Mantong, A. W. (2022). Missing Pillars of Strategic Autonomy? Security Cooperation Between Korea and ASEAN. Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359919968_Missing_Pillars_of_Strategic_Autonomy_Security_Cooperation_Between_Korea_and_ASEAN
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore. (2022). Sanctions and Restrictions Against Russia in Response to its Invasion of Ukraine. https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2022/03/20220305-sanctions
Moon, J., Park, J., & Park, S. (2024). Cooperation or conflict in northeast Asia? - An approach of NARCI (Northeast Asia Regional Cooperation Index). Asia and the Global Economy, 4(2), 100089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aglobe.2024.100089
Morada, N. M., & Haacke, J. (2011). Cooperative Security in the Asia-Pacific: The ASEAN Regional Forum. Taylor & Francis Group
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2025). ASEAN Plan. https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Aid-Prog-docs/4-year-plans/ASEAN-Plan.pdf
Ostwald, K. (2025). Canada’s Evolving Relationship with the ASEAN Region. The Institute for Peace & Diplomacy. https://peacediplomacy.org/2024/02/16/canadas-evolving-relationship-with-the-asean-region
Rezasyah, T. (2025). Korean Peninsula policies of ASEAN: Efforts to promote peaceful unification. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies, 8(3), 3501–3506. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v8i3.7280
Tomatoka, S. (2024). Japan’s Security Cooperation with ASEAN. East Asian Policy, 16(03), 21–34. https://doi.org/10.1142/s1793930524000187
U.S. Mission to ASEAN. (2024). The United States-ASEAN Relationship. https://asean.usmission.gov/the-united-states-asean-relationship-3
Авер’янов, С.В. (2020). Безпековий аспект відносин АСЕАН та КНР у Південно-Східній Азії. Вісник Маріупольського державного університету. Серія: Історія. Політологія, 10(28-29), 133–143. https://doi.org/10.34079/2226-2830-2020-10-28-29-133-143
Авер'янов, С. В. (2021). Безпекова діяльність АСЕАН у Південно-Східній Азії [Дис. канд. політ. наук, Київський національний університет імені Тараса Шевченка]. Наукова бібліотека імені М. Максимовича Київського національного університету імені Тараса Шевченка. http://www.library.univ.kiev.ua/ukr/elcat/new/detail.php3?doc_id=1981985&author=%C0%E2%E5%F0&div=0&source=1&prev=25&page=0&docType=24&docType1=8&docType2=17&docType3=13&docType4=14&docType5=15&docType6=26&docType7=18&docType8=19&docType9=25&parentId=0
Вартовник, І. (2025). Поступ концепції кооперативної безпеки та особливості її застосування в Азійсько-Тихоокеанському регіоні. Society and Security, (2(8), 14–21. https://doi.org/10.26642/sas-2025-2(8)-14-21.
