KUALA LUMPUR: Belgium has called for stronger European Union (EU)-ASEAN strategic alliances based on shared principles and international law, stressing that rising geopolitical rivalry has made cooperation between like-minded partners more important than ever.
Its Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation Minister, Maxime Prévot, said the two regions, representing more than one billion people, are well positioned to offer stability, security and predictability at a time of growing international uncertainty.
He said Europe had become overly dependent militarily on the United States, commercially on China and Russia on energy.
“Time has come to wake up. Time has come to strengthen our strategic alliances. Not by seeking to oppose anyone, but for the sake of principles, for the common good rather than national isolationism,” he said during the Ministerial Address session at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable here today.
Describing the EU-ASEAN partnership as a model of dialogue, diplomacy and long-term cooperation, Prévot urged both regions to capitalise on evolving global dynamics to deepen collaboration.
“If interdependence defines our reality, then multilateralism must define our response. Multilateralism is an essential part of Belgium’s and Europe’s DNA.
“However, the multilateralism system is under strain. Therefore, it must adapt to remain credible and effective in such a changing world. Both regions prioritise dialogue and diplomacy (and) cooperation, not confrontation. It is the path forward,” he said.
Prévot also announced Belgium’s decision to ratify ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), describing the move as a reflection of his country’s commitment to peaceful interstate relations and stronger engagement with Southeast Asia.
He stressed that adherence to international law is particularly vital for medium-sized countries such as Belgium, describing the rules-based international order as the country’s “only shield” for safeguarding its people, economy and prosperity.
On security, Prévot said today’s global challenges transcend national borders and require collective responses, adding that security now extends beyond military concerns to include economic stability and environmental sustainability which required closer cooperation among nations in addressing these issues.
He reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to the rules-based international order and support for international legal frameworks, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). – BERNAMA
