As Malaysia prepares to host the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) from 8 to 11 July 2025, ASEAN is intensifying efforts to strengthen global nuclear disarmament by reviewing the participation of major powers in the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Protocol).
Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin confirmed that ASEAN is conducting a technical review to assess whether nuclear-armed states can join the protocol with or without reservations—a move that could significantly advance the bloc’s long-standing commitment to a nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia.
“This matter is being reviewed by the SEANWFZ Commission through discussions held at the senior officials and executive committee levels,” Amran said during a media briefing ahead of the AMM.
A Platform for Global Dialogue
Amran emphasized ASEAN’s role as a diplomatic bridge for engaging major powers in a more controlled and transparent nuclear regime. “ASEAN provides the space for the world’s major powers to join the SEANWFZ Protocol and become part of the SEANWFZ group itself,” he noted.
The review process is seen as a critical step toward reconciling the interests of nuclear weapon states (NWS) with the treaty’s core principles. While China and Russia have reportedly agreed to sign the protocol, the United States is still undergoing internal review.
“Several important decisions have already been made regarding whether participation can be made with or without reservation,” Amran added. “We also received indications that progress can be achieved, although it may take quite a long time.”
About the SEANWFZ Treaty
Also known as the Bangkok Treaty, the SEANWFZ Treaty was signed in December 1995 and came into force in March 1997. It obliges signatories to:
- Refrain from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons within the zone
- Avoid contributing to any act that violates the treaty or its protocol
- Respect the nuclear weapon-free status of Southeast Asia
The Protocol invites the five NWS—China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States—to formally commit to these principles.
Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship
Malaysia assumed the ASEAN Chair on 1 January 2025, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, marking its fifth chairmanship since 1977. The upcoming AMM at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) will serve as a pivotal platform to advance regional peace, security, and cooperation.
