CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City -- General Romeo S Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is currently participating in the 22nd ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from September 9 to 12, 2025.
The high-level regional security forum brought together the Chiefs of Defence from ASEAN Member States, including Timor Leste, to exchange perspectives and enhance multilateral cooperation in addressing regional security challenges and emerging threats.
In his remarks, General Brawner highlighted the increasing complexity of the regional security landscape. “The region is being confronted with intensifying geopolitical rivalries, particularly among major powers competing for influence over strategic sea lanes and trade routes,” he said.
As the meeting progresses, key initiatives are being discussed under the leadership of General Tan Sri HJ Mohd Nizam Bin HJ Jaffar, Chief of Defence Force of the Malaysian Armed Forces and Chairperson of the 22nd ACDFM. These included the conclusion of the Code of Conduct between ASEAN and China during the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2026, the establishment of an ASEAN Combined Task Force, and the conduct of a joint ASEAN military exercise.
General Brawner, in his intervention, called on ASEAN defense leaders to remain vigilant and united amid external pressures. He stressed that ASEAN must not be swayed by economic inducements or deceptive promises, and emphasized that illegal, coercive, aggressive, or deceptive actions by assertive actors should not be allowed to persist unchallenged.
Today, the ceremonial turnover of the ACDFM Chairmanship to the Philippines was also conducted. The AFP is set to host the 23rd ACDFM in Manila in May 2026, reinforcing the country's commitment to promoting peace, stability, and strategic cooperation in the region.
The AFP remains dedicated to working closely with ASEAN counterparts to advance a rules-based international order and strengthen regional resilience in the face of evolving security challenges.
