Sweden, Poland, Romania, and Lithuania formally acceded to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) on Friday, expanding the bloc’s community of high-contracting parties and underscoring growing European support for ASEAN’s rules-based approach to regional peace and security.
The four European nations joined the treaty during the first-ever High-Level Conference of High-Contracting Parties since the TAC was signed in 1976, hosted by the Philippines as part of its ASEAN Chairship in 2026 and the treaty’s 50th anniversary.
Speaking at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro welcomed the four new high-contracting parties into ASEAN’s expanding global community.
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Lazaro said the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation has been instrumental in ASEAN’’ transformation over the past five decades.
“Over the past five decades, peace transformed Southeast Asia from a region of turmoil into a global economic powerhouse, a vibrant market, and an engine of innovation. Our journey proved one fundamental truth. Economic prosperity does not happen by accident. It is made possible only under the indispensable conditions of peace,” Secretary Lazaro said.
She described the TAC as ASEAN’s guiding code of conduct for preserving peace and stability, noting that its principles now resonate well beyond Southeast Asia.
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“Today, that invitation is upheld by 62 high contracting parties representing nearly three quarters of humanity. When our leaders took the leap of faith, they recognized a truth that presses upon us today. No nation can prosper in isolation and true security can never be built behind closed doors,” she said.
The conference centered on conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy, maritime security and cooperation, and emerging regional and global challenges.
Earlier, ASEAN adopted the Guidelines on the Modalities for Engagement of ASEAN with High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, a Philippine Chairship priority that provides a framework for non-ASEAN signatories — particularly those without formal partnership arrangements — to engage more deeply with the regional bloc.
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Lazaro also highlighted the Filipino concept of “kapwa,” saying it reflects a universal principle of peace and mutual respect that transcends borders.
“We find this exact same core belief that human dignity is indivisible and a true peace rests on our ability to see ourselves to the other. This result teaches us one lesson. Neighborhood is not defined by geographic distance. It is defined by shared values and common aspirations. When you view one another through the lens of ‘kapwa,’ physical distance evaporates. We become true neighbors in a shared world.”
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She stressed that sustaining peace requires collective effort and adherence to international law.
According to Lazaro, the engagement of external partners in promoting peace demands “continuous labor, deliberate restraint, inclusive dialogue, and an unyielding adherence to the rule of law.”
“It is precisely in times of global fracture that ASEAN’s unique convening power becomes essential. Today, that convening power is on full display here in Manila. ASEAN remains an open, inclusive, and safe space, a trusted platform where nations, regardless of size or strategic alignment, can gather, speak candidly, cultivate trust, and actively choose peace,” she added.