Thailand, Sri Lanka and the United States of America co-chaired the 14 th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (ISM on NPD) hosted by Sri Lanka on 16-17 May 2023 in Colombo.

Mr. Bolbongse Vangphaen, Deputy Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, highlighted ASEAN’s central strategic role in working with external partners to build trust and confidence for advancing the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament agenda as well as maximising benefits from peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The Meeting discussed and exchanged views on regional response to the challenges in advancing strategic and nuclear risk reduction in the context of current global uncertainties. The discussions covered a wide range of issues such
as the accession of the Nuclear Weapon States to the Protocol to the Treaty of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), strategic trade management, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the role of youth in disarmament, and the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear technology, especially for sustainable development.

ARF is an important ASEAN-led mechanism for security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region. It provides a forum for the 27 Participants to foster constructive dialogue and consultation towards promoting confidence building measures and preventive diplomacy in the region. The 5 main areas of cooperation under the ARF include Disaster Relief, Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime, Maritime Security, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament and Security of and in the Use of ICTs, all of which corresponds to Thailand’s security interests. Thailand co-chairs the ARF ISM on NPD with the United States of America and Sri Lanka for the term 2022-2024.