Manila: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) key security dialogue platform has urged states to recognise the need for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, as reported by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). According to Nam News Network, the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting, held on July 23, called upon all nuclear weapon states to fulfil their obligations towards nuclear disarmament. The meeting emphasized the importance of adhering to Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and recognised that the complete elimination of nuclear weapons is the only guaranteed way to ensure they are never used again. The ARF, a major security mechanism in the region, includes ASEAN member states, along with Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the United States, Bangladesh, North Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Papua New Guinea. During the meeting, ministers expressed concern over developments in the Korean Peninsula, urging the resumption of peaceful dialogue among all related parties. The ASEAN chair highlighted the "grave concern" regarding North Korea's ongoing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, labeling them violations of UN Security Council resolutions and threats to regional peace and stability. ASEAN expressed readiness to facilitate dialogue through its platforms like the ARF. Besides the Korean Peninsula, discussions during the meeting also covered developments in the South China Sea, Myanmar, and West Asia. Participants called for the full participation of all ARF members in future activities, confident that the ARF would continue to promote dialogue, cooperation, peace, and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting also marked the formal admission of the United Kingdom as the 28th ARF participant, acknowledging its strong engagement with ASEAN as one of its eleven Dialogue Partners.
