KUALA LUMPUR: Asean militaries must be prepared to face evolving challenges by expanding joint exercises and enhancing interoperability, said Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar.
He urged Asean military leaders to take bold steps to advance cooperation, deepen military drills, and reinforce defence operational structures.
“By translating dialogue into action, we can make tangible differences on the ground.
“Let us take bold steps to advance interoperability, expand joint exercises, and strengthen operational frameworks for maritime patrols, counterterrorism, cyber defence, and disaster relief.
“These are areas where our cooperation can be felt directly by the people we serve,” he said in his opening speech at the 22nd Asean Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM), here.
Nizam said ACDFM has matured into a trusted platform for building understanding and strengthening cooperation among the armed forces.
He stressed that the region requires steady judgement, strategic foresight and decisive action amid growing demands on its armed forces.
“That foundation is solid, but the time has come to place more weight on the bridge we have built. This meeting should not only reaffirm what we have already agreed upon, but also explore new ground where collaboration is possible.
“Some issues will be complex, even sensitive, yet avoiding them will not make them disappear. By addressing them openly and respectfully, we strengthen the trust that allows us to face the future with confidence,” he said.
Nizam added that defence leaders should be remembered not only for responding to crises, but for anticipating them; not merely for guarding borders, but for building bridges; and not for the pursuit of power, but for the pursuit of purpose.
As such, he hoped this year’s ACDFM would mark a step forward in solidarity, progress and the collective security of the region.
“Let us show the world that we are instruments of peace. Throughout my years of service, I have had the privilege of standing shoulder to shoulder with many of the defence chiefs in exercises, peacekeeping missions, and strategic dialogues.
“I have witnessed the professionalism and dedication that define our Asean military community. But I have also seen how fragile peace can be, how quickly stability can be tested, and how costly complacency becomes,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
