Marcos urges ASEAN, Russia to boost maritime security, counterterrorism

KAZAN – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos on Thursday said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia should explore ways to fortify practical cooperation on maritime security and counterterrorism in response to growing geopolitical challenges.

In his welcome remarks as co-chair of the summit, Marcos stressed three priorities that should stir cooperation between ASEAN and Russia.

These are the following:

• peace, security, and stability;
• a more dynamic economic partnership; and
• the people.

“In an era of deepening geopolitical uncertainty, the value of steady political and security engagement between ASEAN and Russia cannot be overstated,” Marcos said.

“Transnational threats such as terrorism, illicit trafficking, cybercrime, and online scams do not respect borders, and neither can our responses,” she added.

“We must strengthen practical cooperation on maritime security and counterterrorism, reinforce our collective resilience in cyberspace, and develop the institutional habits of anticipation rather than mere reaction,” Marcos said.

He emphasized being proactive against various regional challenges rather than merely reacting to them.

“We must strengthen practical cooperation on maritime security and counter terrorism, reinforce our collective resilience in cyberspace, and develop the institutional habits of anticipation rather than mere reaction,” Marcos said.

On the need for a more dynamic economic partnership, Marcos said, “Our trade and investment ties have grown, but they have yet to reach full potential.”

“We must be more deliberate and more ambitious in expanding economic opportunities, improving trade facilitation, deepening investment flows, and connecting our business communities,” Marcos said.

“Food and energy security deserve, in particular, attention as these are the foundations on which broader stability rests,” he added.

Marcos stressed that this economic cooperation between ASEAN and Russia must include micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as emerging sectors.

On investing in people, Marcos said ASEAN and Russia must continue to pursue “scholarships, student exchanges, academic partnerships, tourism, and the arts. These are not peripheral to our relationship; they are at its living core.”

“The connections forged between our peoples outlast any summit declaration and carry our partnership forward in ways that policy alone cannot do,” Marcos said.

The summit commemorates 35 years of relations between ASEAN and Russia.

“The Philippines approaches this summit not just as a ceremony of commemoration, but as a renewed call to action. 35 years is a foundation. What we build on it is our choice and our responsibility. Let us choose well,” Marcos said. –NB, GMA News