Joint Statement of the 26th ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting on Building Regional Cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

WELCOMING the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as an ASEAN Member State, and looking forward to their future participation in ACAMM;

RECALLING ACAMM as the premier army-to-army military interaction platform in the ASEAN region, established to enhance strategic cooperation, build mutual trust, and foster enduring relationships among the armies of ASEAN Member States (AMS);

REAFFIRMING the shared commitment and collective responsibility in maintaining and enhancing regional peace, security and stability, thereby building a united ASEAN Community;

INSPIRED by the significant achievements of the ACAMM in the previous iterations in strengthening the unity among armies of AMS;

CONFIDENT of the ability of the armies of AMS to freely discuss, share knowledge and achieve consensus over diverse issues – the ASEAN Way;

DISCUSSING the theme “Building Regional Cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)”, to promote greater unity and collaboration among the armies of AMS;

BUILDING UPON all the outcomes and recommendations made by the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), 22nd ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM), 20th ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on HADR Meeting, and related ASEAN military meetings;

ACKNOWLEDGING the efforts and commitment by the ADMM to promote capacity-building and cooperation in responding to disasters, through various platforms and initiatives including the Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP) and other ADMM initiatives, where applicable;

RECOGNISING the need to respond effectively and swiftly to the increasing frequency, intensity, and severity of disasters, including those related to climate change – a challenge that is non-traditional, transboundary and cross-sectoral in nature, and which significantly impacts our way of life and socio-economic development;

UNDERSCORING the important role played by armies in supporting HADR operations to mitigate the suffering, loss of lives, and damage resulting from disasters, including those related to climate change;

NOTING the significant potential of digital technologies including Artificial Intelligence in enhancing HADR operations by improving efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness;

APPRECIATING that the armies of AMS have actively participated and contributed in the 26th ACAMM;

AGREEING to further implement the agreement adopted in this Joint Statement of the 26th ACAMM without intervening and disrupting any existing bilateral and multilateral cooperation;

DO HEREBY DECLARE TO:

1. Enhance exchanges and cooperation to strengthen our coordination and capacity-building in HADR operations, including in the use of digital technologies and through the first ADMM-Plus three-EWG Combined Field Training Exercise in 2026.

2. Collaborate with relevant sectoral bodies through ASEAN-led mechanisms to minimise duplication and strengthen regional cooperation and synergy in the HADR domain.

3. Uphold the implementation of projects, initiatives, and activities agreed upon by ACAMM through the ACAMM Working Group.

DONE in the Republic of Singapore, on the Twenty-Sixth of November in the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Five.

More Resources

Armies of ASEAN Member States Deepen Camaraderie and Strengthen Coordination for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

Speech by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Defence, at the 26th Asean Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM) – 13th Asean Sergeant Majors Annual Meeting (ASMAM) Joint Opening Ceremony on 26 November 2025