UAE signs ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation

The UAE has signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) at the 55th Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), taking place in Cambodia from July 30 to August 6.

The peace treaty was established by the founding members of ASEAN, an economic organisation of 10 member states: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, and Laos.

According to the state news agency, WAM, the UAE was represented at the signing ceremony by Dr Abdulnasser Alshaali, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Dr Alshaali said: “The signing of the TAC reflects the UAE’s keenness to strengthen and advance economic relations with ASEAN countries.”

He highlighted global challenges that demonstrate the increased importance of multilateral cooperation, especially within regional and international organisations such as ASEAN. He said the signing of the TAC represents the final step in the UAE’s application to join ASEAN as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP).

Dr Alshaali said, “As the UAE completes the final step in the process of obtaining SDP status, it is essential to underline the mutual benefits that this partnership will bring notably, the impetus it will provide to our joint efforts to address pressing issues at the regional and global levels, including climate change, food and energy security, and the sustainability of the healthcare sector.”

The UAE’s efforts to sign the TAC and join ASEAN as an SDP are part of the broader strategy of MoFAIC and the UAE’s Principles of the 50 framework.