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The nations making up Southeast Asia, a region marked by its diversity in language, culture, politics, and economics, have navigated global conflicts with nuanced approaches shaped by their historical geopolitics, colonial legacies, and economic objectives. The key players in this dynamic landscape overlap with the founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was founded in Bangkok, Thailand, on the 8th of May 1967. The signing of the ASEAN Declaration by five founding states - Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines - brought this economic and political alliance to life. The initiative was spearheaded by Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew, and remains among the most important cooperative international bodies in Asia to date. This article will explore how these countries engage with and influence the resolution of global conflicts, shedding light on their diplomatic manoeuvres, security partnerships, and regional dynamics.
For more on ASEAN, check out this fantastic introduction by Sophie Chee
The majority of Southeast Asian countries maintain policies of general diplomatic neutrality. Singapore, often regarded as a diplomatic hub in Southeast Asia, champions diplomacy and multilateralism as key pillars of its foreign policy, emphasising dialogue and negotiation in addressing global conflicts. Advocating for peaceful resolutions through platforms like the UN and ASEAN, Singapore's hosting of various international conferences, including between global leaders such as Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, and its active participation in multilateral initiatives underscore its commitment to fostering cooperation and conflict resolution on the global stage. Similarly, Thailand maintains a tradition of diplomatic neutrality, abstaining from direct involvement in global conflicts while actively contributing to UN and auxiliary peacekeeping efforts. Thailand's participation in UN peacekeeping missions reflects its commitment to upholding international peace and security, even as it navigates regional challenges such as the insurgency in its southern provinces. Malaysia, too, upholds these principles, and its role as a founding member of ASEAN and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (where it has served four separate terms) allows for its diplomatic engagements to extend beyond Southeast Asia. Malaysia, particularly, leverages its position as a multicultural Muslim nation to advocate for peaceful resolutions in conflict zones worldwide, especially in the Middle East, and drives various humanitarian assistance projects in the same regions. Nevertheless, these tendencies are primarily considered to be shows of solidarity with nations outside of Southeast Asia with whom states have cooperative agreements and sociocultural links, such as the United States and China, both of which have incredibly close political and economic ties with countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. These bilateral security arrangements exist despite various Southeast Asian states’ conflicts with China over the usage of international waters and exclusive economic zones in the South China Sea.
The traditions of neutrality upheld historically have not necessarily been continued over the most violent of conflicts since 2022, and this is considered by many modern political scientists, such as Shaun Narine, to be a net positive, as states adopt stances and demonstrate their agency on the global political stage. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 incited a variety of responses from Southeast Asian nations, with the strongest on either side of the spectrum being Singapore, which condemned Russia’s actions and supported the implementation of sanctions on Russia, and Myanmar, which lauded the Kremlin’s actions. The primary responses to the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel in the Middle East have been those of concern over Southeast Asian citizens caught in the conflict zones, and calls for an immediate resolution to the violence. However, other than the two Muslim-majority nations of Malaysia and Indonesia, few other Southeast Asian stakeholders have issued open condemnations of Hamas or Israel’s actions or firmly chosen a side to support.
Check out this video done by the BBC on the reactions of Asian nations to Russia's invasion of Ukraine ⬇️
Internal conflicts, particularly those within ASEAN member states, have been of significantly greater interest and incited more tangible responses. Looking at the region’s history, before the conception of ASEAN, the 1963-66 Konfrontasi took place. This violent armed conflict in the islands between Indonesia and Malaysia, including the fledgling Singapore, was resolved via heavy intervention and diplomatic negotiations between the belligerent nations, and is sometimes considered to have been the ‘war that gave birth to ASEAN’ (Adam Leong Kok Wey, The Diplomat). However, ASEAN does not have the best track record in terms of responses to conflicts within and between members that have occurred since its establishment. The best-known example of this in recent history would be the 2021 civil war and military takeover in Myanmar by General Min Aung Hlaing’s junta. At a conference in Jakarta in April 2021, the leaders of nine ASEAN member states responded to this violent conflict by drawing up a ‘Five-Point Consensus’. This plan to minimise the impact of the conflict, primarily through the provision of humanitarian assistance for the stricken civilians and the establishment of international diplomatic missions and special envoys, was unfortunately discarded by the recently acceded General, and the conflict between the junta and resistance groups continues to this day.
For a deeper dive into the Konrfrontasi, check this out:
Overall, states such as Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia exemplify the diverse responses of Southeast Asian countries to global conflicts, ranging from diplomatic neutrality to global partnerships. While each country adopts a unique approach shaped by its historical context and strategic imperatives, they collectively contribute to regional stability and conflict resolution efforts in Southeast Asia and beyond. As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, their roles as mediators, facilitators, and advocates for peace will remain crucial in shaping the future of the region.
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