Military officers from ASEAN member states exchanged views on issues regarding regional security and measures to enhance results-oriented cooperation between the operations departments of armies in the region, during the 10th ASEAN Military Operations Meeting (AMOM-10) held online on September 16.

AMOM-10 was chaired by Lt. Gen. Thai Dai Ngoc, head of the Operations Department
under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army. (Photo: VNA)

 They also looked at documents for the upcoming 17th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting (ACDFM-17).

 AMOM-10 was chaired by Lt. Gen. Thai Dai Ngoc, head of the Operations Department under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army.

In his remarks, Ngoc said that with the theme “Military cooperation for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN” selected for AMOM-10, Vietnam hopes that defence and military collaboration will continue to be a key factor in regional peace, security, and stability.

 He also emphasised the significance of intensifying trust building through international law and regional commitments, joint activities, exchanges, and dialogues, especially between field operations forces.

 Delegates pointed to diverse, complex non-traditional security challenges like terrorism, piracy, cyber security, climate change, and natural disasters.

 Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted field military cooperation activities between armies of ASEAN countries, they said, commending the role played by forces in the fight against the pandemic.

 They also lauded Vietnam as the ASEAN Chair 2020 amid the pandemic, saying the country has successfully organised many defence-military meetings and promptly raised proposals and implemented initiatives in the pandemic fight and defence-military collaboration.

 Operations departments will increase discussions on regional security issues of shared concern, while working to enhance their mutual understanding and trust, they agreed.

 Delegates reached consensus on the action plan for 2020-2022, to be submitted to ACDFM-17 for approval.

 Ngoc transferred the AMOM Chairmanship to Brunei at the meeting.