Widely regarded as Asia’s premier defense summit, the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), held on 30 May to 1 June this year in Singapore, brought together defense ministers, senior defense and security officials, and scholars from 55 countries and international organizations to discuss and debate key security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
The annual meeting offered exceptional reviews of what transpire among the big and small states in the realms of the security posture of the global world where stages are offered to defense leaders and security thinkers from around the globe to make sense of the contestation of geopolitical and geostrategic of the current world order, led by preeminent position of the US global power.
Well over 500 participants attending this year SLD, including Amb. Pou Sothirak and Mr. Him Raksmey who were invited as delegates from the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies.
All attendees had been mesmerized by: the insightful keynote address by President Emmanuel Macron’s strategic remarks on the unstable current world order after his Southeast Asia tour. Other important speakers include: the prominent and provocative remarks by U.S Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, bringing a U.S. strategic voice on how the US see the world, especially China; distinctive views expressed by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on how to ensure stability in a competitive world policy; the vision statement by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on global geopolitical and geo-economic uncertainties, as Chair of ASEAN this year on regional; a most vocal statement against Beijing’s moves to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea by the Defense Secretary of the Philippines Gilberto Teodoro; a clear and crisp views on upholding commitment towards the rules based order by Singapore’s new Minister for Defense Chan Chun Sing; eloquent address by the Defense Minister of Lithuania Dovile Sakaliene on Security and Defense Engagement in Indo-Pacific Region.
All of us at the conference also were intrigued by numerous other interesting statements by defense ministers of Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Finland, Papua New Guinea, Sweden; as well as by President of Timor-Leste.
The following are key takeaways from the one-and-half-day intense discussions:
President Emmanuel Macron’ strategic remarks
In a time of multiple crises, new incentives are needed to cooperate and invent new forms of cooperation based on the common interest of the current world order.
- Being a European country, France is committed to this region because the country is an Indo-Pacific player with 8,000 soldiers permanently deployed in our bases, deployed a lot of common exercises with French aircraft carriers.
- France is seeking new special relationship between Europe and Indo-Pacific and European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
- Called for European and Asian countries to build a coalition of independent countries to maintain strategic autonomy by brushing aside the “double standard” behaviors of powerful states.
- Risks of double standards in the current environment can be seen in Ukraine, Latin America (LATAM), Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia.
- It is a total mistake, if we consider that Russia could be allowed to take a part of the territory of Ukraine without any restriction, without any constraint, without any reaction of the global order. Therefore, what could happen next in Taiwan?
- Warned that if Russia can to take Ukraine territory by force, the same fate could happen to Taiwan and the Philippines. As such international rules-based system must be preserved, and international laws must be implemented consistently throughout all global issues.
- It is very important in our current environment to reject double standards, allowing consistency to prevail and follow our principles, our rules, as foundation of the global order and what is at stake is our credibility to protect this global order.
- The main risk today is a risk of division of the world and a division between the two superpowers where instruction is given that you have to choose your side. Other countries shouldn’t be trapped in the world affected by a global division between the two superpowers, the U.S. and China, forcing them to choose a side.
- Europe and Asia have a common interest to follow this line of strategic autonomy to overcome the challenge of revisionist countries that want to impose their spheres of coercion under the name of spheres of influence, incline to resort to heavily armed force, decline credibility of the long-time alliances, and provoke the nuclear proliferation in Iran.
- Europe and Asia must act concretely in order to deliver the strategic-autonomy agenda to preserve freedom, prosperity and security of the world we live in today.
U.S Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s prominent and provocative remarks
At the first plenary session and by reassuring regional defense officials about the Trump 2.0 administration’s approach to the Indo-Pacific, US Secretary of Defense unleashed a provocative perspective on how Washington, under Trump 2.0 intend to preserve regional and global security. He articulated the US strategy which guided by “peace through strength” by restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the US military, and reestablish deterrence against any forces attempt to change the status quo by non-peaceful means.
- America First is not America Alone. The US want to engage with, enable, and empower allies. The US stands ready to work with any country that is willing to step up and preserve the global and regional peace.
- The US commits to anchoring its presence in the Indo-Pacific as the pacific power by deepening its regional presence and enhancing security partnerships with its allies and partners, but also expects its allies and partners to shoulder more defense responsibilities in addressing regional security threats.
- Call on European allies to maximize their comparative advantage on the continent
- The US wants peace and not conflicts and wars with China. The US do not seek conflict with Communist China, not instigate nor seek to subjugate or humiliate.
- The US sees China as a security threat in the region, as in the South China Sea, China harasses its neighbors. The status quo must be maintained, any threat needs to be managed through a strong deterrence.
- China’s military harasses Taiwan. China is preparing its military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027. The threat China poses is real, but any attempt to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.
- No one should doubt America’s commitment to Indo-Pacific allies and partners and also our key defense partners in ASEAN and across the Indo-Pacific.
- Why NATO members are pledging to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, it doesn’t make sense that while key allies in Asia spend less on defense in the face of an even more formidable threat, not to mention North Korea.
- Re-establishing deterrence in three distinct ways. First, by improving US forward force posture, second, by helping allies and partners strengthen their defense capabilities, and third by rebuilding defense industrial bases.
- The US look to countries in the region to join Washington preparing for war in order to deter war — to achieve peace through strength. “Those who long for peace, must prepare for war.”
Distinctive views by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas
Eighty years after the end of World War II, there remain the greatest challenge of our time:
- First, Russia is waging an illegal war of aggression by invading Ukraine, a sovereign state. This action violates very clearly the UN Charter. There are no ‘root causes’ under international law that allow for the use of force.
- Second, Europe and Asia share a commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in overcoming maritime security challenges, including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
- Third, those who breech international law are often the same as those who see international relations as a zero-sum game. It is not. EU strategy for the Indo-Pacific is the exact opposite of this. It is about building strong partnerships in our mutual interest. All of us are always better off when we work together.
- EU is Committed to supporting multilateralism and international rules-based international system, and open to opportunities to work together to address regional security challenges.
- Amidst growing security challenges in Europe and Asia, EU wants to see more security engagements between EU and Asia. EU wants to be a reliable security partner to Asia, standing firm in supporting international laws, multilateralism, and free trade.
The vision statement by Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim - Southeast Asia is holding its ground through cooperation, collective resilience and the steady exercise of our own agency.
- With substantive and productive outcomes of the 46th ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur held on 26 May, 2025, lasting security has been built with the adoption of the KL Declaration on ASEAN 2045, a 20-year road map to knit the region closer together with jobs, connectivity and sustainability at its core. ASEAN made the historic decision to admit Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member, with formal admission expected at the summit in October this year.
- ASEAN is to deepen its ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
- ASEAN is to preserving the grouping autonomy not by resisting others, but by strengthening ourselves.
- ASEAN reaffirms its commitment to an open, predictable and rules-based trading system, not because it is expedient, but because it is essential.
- The Five-Point Consensus remains ASEAN’s resolution that sustain Myanmar’s nationhood which must be forged through inclusion, not erasure.
- Malaysia calls for ASEAN to evolve, to enhance economic openness and strategic stability, exercise restraint on hard security challenges, and preserve strategic autonomy through active non-alignment.
A vocal statement by the Defense Secretary of the Philippines Gilberto Teodoro - Philippine Defense Secretary starkly stated that “to envision a China-led international order, we only need to look at how they treat their much smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, which runs counter to the ‘peaceful rise’ they initially promised”.
- According to the Philippines, China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea create the lack of trust in Beijing which regarded as “the biggest stumbling block” to resolving the dispute.
- China lays claim of more than 80% of the South China Sea based on the 1947 map that shows vaguely the dashes outlining its claims, which are disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.
- In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s sweeping claims have no legal basis, a ruling that Beijing rejects.
- Philippines stressed the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in defending its rights in the South China Sea. The issue in the South China Sea should not be merely viewed from the perspective of great power competition, but also the agency of smaller states like Philippines in using international laws to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- For the Philippines, the biggest threat is China and for that the country converges not only with the United States but with other countries as well.
- Given the current geopolitical landscape, which is shaped by the flows of power, influence, technology and information, thinking regionally is no longer sufficient, but to act globally without understanding local context is equally dangerous. ASEAN have been struggling to align with extra-regional actors on common priorities. As such, concerns emerge with regard to the unity and effectiveness and continued relevance of our multilateral institutions.
- In this light, recommendations were suggested as a collective way forward by enhancing cross-regional security cooperation to come up with concrete measures such as joint strategic dialogues in a form of trilateral or quadrilateral summits among regional blocs on shared security concerns. To this end, ASEAN must definitely strengthen and leverage its dialogue partnerships, including those with the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
A clear statement by Singapore’s new Minister for Defense Chan Chun Sing - Singapore observed that there are two common themes that has occurred. The first is that there has been a shift in how we conceive security. Security challenges seen as conflicts in geographical settings have now become intertwined by challenges that cross boundaries, such as the security of our supply chains, countering disinformation, and protecting the security and integrity of our cyber infrastructure.
- The second is about the rules-based order and how international laws and norms are important in preventing conflict. Yet, this order is frayed. Because of that, we live in dangerous times.
- Any country is right to prioritize its own security. However, this quest must be pursued alongside a firm commitment to international laws and norms, which set the rules of what is acceptable state behavior. If there is no trust that countries will act in accordance to these rules, then the quest for one’s security could easily lead to greater insecurity in others. We would then fall into a vicious spiral where attempts to overcome one’s insecurity produce greater insecurity.
- Competition and cooperation are not mutually exclusive. The greater the competition, be it in the security or economic domains, the more we need guardrails to ensure that competition does not descend into conflict.
- Countries may continue to have their differences, but if they continued to deepen their cooperation, defined not by division, but united by a shared purpose, to forge our common interest in manage emerging security challenges.
- The third is that all states have agency and responsibilities. In a fragmenting global security and economic order, it is tempting for small states, including many in Southeast Asia, to ask whether agency is possible and if we must choose a side.
- Singapore will choose the side of principles that promote a more integrated global economic and security order underpinned by international law and sovereign equality. All states, big and small, have agency and also responsibilities to uphold a global economic and security order for our common benefit.
An insightful address by the Defense Minister of Lithuania Dovile Sakaliene
- Today, we are facing quite unprecedented challenges today, very different from decades ago. We are basically facing a point of transition, to a possible point of no return. Therefore, we ought to be very straightforward and honest with each other. For far too long, we have told ourselves a very comforting story that undemocratic, unfree countries would eventually become a part of a free world if only we welcomed them and showed them the way.
- Authoritarian regimes gained strength and profits were put before principles. When putting money over morality, the world become a dangerous place, backed by hard principles and military muscle, then polite demeanor is taken for weakness and adherence to rules as simple stupidity.
- The inability to enforce those rules upon those who keep breaking them, even in our own homes, shattered our illusions of power and enraged our societies. That huge wave of radicalism is also our own doing, is it not?
- International rules-based order only means something if you actually do enforce the rules.
- The convergence of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea into an increasingly coordinated authoritarian axis – let us put it diplomatically – demands an equally unified response by us. We should not mix being polite with lacking strength.
- the United States’ strategic focus on Indo-Pacific is both justified and necessary. But this is not America’s responsibility alone.
- A safe and stable Indo-Pacific and a strong Europe can provide vital support to the US in our joint effort to prevent the next war and hopefully to make an effective end to the current one in Ukraine.
- It is crucial to weave a tightly knit network of allies and partners from Europe to Indo-Pacific, based on fair burden sharing and defense of joint interests against common threats.
- A small state does have something to offer. Being small does not mean being insignificant, especially when there is a lot of such small ones like us who believe in concrete action and building mutually beneficial alliances with countries facing the same threats and willing to join talent, ambition and resources.
- We can build a very resilient network when living next to Russian empire, next to Chinese empire and they are breathing down our necks every single day. It is up to us to withstand, because we can. We just need to be a little bit tougher, maybe less polite, keep the rules, enforce those rules.
Other Key Security Issues
Besides these key speeches, there were also important remarks by other defense ministers made during the plenary sessions of the 22nd SLD on key security issues including:
- Nuclear proliferations are regarded as a major security threat, and there are strong calls for strengthening international regimes to ensure non-proliferations
- There is a need to rebalance of the post-Cold War security architecture to stabilize global order, and to emphasize the importance of liberal political values in developing a more stable world order based on international laws.
- Global cooperation is needed to promote stronger international regimes regarding the usages of undersea and outer-space for defense purposes. Limited international laws put many critical civilian undersea and outer-space infrastructures at risk, and might lead to major conflicts if not addressed properly.
- With the rapid innovations of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cyber security becomes a major security challenge which raises the importance of setting up a robust rules-based global governance system to manage this critical issue.
Activities by CCRS Delegates
- Mr. Him Raksmey, CCRS Executive Director, engaged and exchanged views with scholars from various regional security and foreign policy think tanks, and expanded CCRS’ networks. He also participated in the SLD Young Leaders’ Program – held at the sideline of SLD aiming to bring a new generation of strategic thinkers from Southeast Asia and countries of strategic importance to the region to have opportunities to engage in high-level discussions on complex and evolving regional security challenges. He had opportunities to join candid and close-door discussions with eminent personalities including President of Timor-Leste, Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, and Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command.
- He presented CCRS’ book on “Cambodia and ASEAN at 25: Addressing Challenges Together for a Forward-Looking Community” to H.E. Gilbert Teodoro, Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, and H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore.
- During the Second Plenary Session, Amb. Pou Sothirak had the opportunity to ask the defense minister from Vietnam why does it take so long to conclude the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and if and when COC will be adopted, will it be aligned with international laws? He also asked a question to the EU High Representative on Foreign and Security how the EU prepares to assist the UN system to uphold international rules-based order and international laws?
- During the same session, Mr. Him Raksmey took the chance to ask how do EU and Japan expect ASEAN individually and collectively to step up to work together on defending the international laws in place while stepping security cooperation; and how does EU see the end of the War in Ukraine?
- During the Third Plenary Session, Mr. Him Raksmey took the floor again and asked the defense ministers of Australia and Netherlands the following questions: with the ongoing war in Europe, and tensions and flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific, what went wrong in post-Cold War security architecture for the past 30 years that contributed to the conflicts and tensions today? what were the key lessons learnt from the past three decades that Europe and Indo-Pacific need to learn to stabilize the regional and global order, going forward?
- During the Fifth Plenary Session, Amb. Pou Sothirak seized the floor and asked the Philippines defense secretary whether the United Nations Security Council can be reformed? How does ASEAN address the challenge of consensus which each member has its own 10 veto power? As ASEAN Chair in 2026, will the Philippines take the recent Cambodia-Thailand border dispute on the ASEAN’s agenda?
- On 31 May, 2025 from 2:00 to 3:00pm, Amb. Pou Sothirak and Mr. Him Raksmey met on the sideline with Brigadier-General (BG) Ng Pak Shun, Group Chief, Policy and Strategy, Defense Policy Office in Singapore’s Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) to exchange views on key geopolitical developments in the region.
It has been an interesting and learning opportunity for CCRS delegates from attending the 22nd SLD. Amidst multitudes of complex security challenges across the world and the region, SLD continues to be a valuable platform to learn first-hand the latest developments concerning the undercurrents that shape the defense and security realms of the global world. This year’s SLD reinforce and promote the importance of dialogues and cooperation in upholding peaceful dispute settlements, managing tensions and flashpoints, avoiding conflicts and wars, and fostering regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.
