We, the Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Participants, decided on the ARF Manila Plan of Action (MPOA) 2026–2036;  

1.Recalling the ARF Vision Statement (2009), the Ha Noi Plan of Action to implement the ARF Vision Statement (2010), and the Ha Noi Plan of Action II (2020–2025), and noting their progress of implementation; 

2.Reaffirming the ARF as a central pillar in the evolving regional security architecture. Also reaffirming the commitment of the ARF in fostering constructive dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues of common interest and concern, enhancing mutual understanding and transparency, reconciling differing views to reduce the risk to security, promoting the shaping and sharing of norms and respect for international law, including the United Nations (UN) Charter, as well as promoting confidence building and preventive diplomacy to maintain and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region; 

3.Recognising that the ARF principles and guiding approaches, including decision making by consensus, have enabled the ARF Participants to move the ARF process forward at a pace comfortable to all, through ARF’s evolutionary approach of promotion of confidence building measures, development of preventive diplomacy and elaboration of approaches to conflict resolution; 

4.Noting the efforts of all ARF Participants on proposing and implementing activities on confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy (CBMs and PD) and emphasising the importance of furthering this trend in accordance with the ARF Work Plan on Preventive Diplomacy and consistent with the principles in the ARF Concept and Principles of Preventive Diplomacy; 

5.Acknowledging the strengthened cooperation among ARF Participants in the response to emerging traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including through information sharing, awareness raising, as well as capacity building measures; 

6.Reaffirming ASEAN’s role as the primary driving force in the ARF process and that a successful ARF requires the active, full and equal, constructive and effective participation and cooperation of all ARF Participants; 

7.Recalling the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future and its objective to build a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN that is responsive in addressing challenges to regional peace and security; 

8.Acknowledging that the evolving regional security architecture and growing complexities of security challenges require the ARF to continue positioning and revitalising itself to address these challenges in a holistic and comprehensive manner to maintain its relevance and significance as an action-oriented Forum, and to synergise its work with other ASEAN-led mechanisms for greater concerted efforts and coherence, as well as to promote cooperation with other regional and international bodies; 

9.Recalling the decision of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the recommendations to revitalise the ARF intended to bolster the ARF’s effectiveness, significance and relevance in contributing to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region;

10.Reiterating the basic principles contained within the 1994 ARF Concept Paper, which is an important foundational document that has guided the development of the ARF since its inception;

11.Emphasising that this Plan of Action (POA) should be implemented in line with the principle of consensus, on a voluntary basis and in conformity with international law and respective national laws and regulations; and 

12.Underscoring the commitment to demonstrate effective outcomes by developing action lines that are specific, actionable and measurable to ensure that cooperation in the ARF remains relevant and effective. 

Hereby decide on the following strategic measures and action lines to guide the ARF initiatives and activities.

1.Areas of Cooperation

1.1.Disaster Relief

Support the work of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on Disaster Relief (DR) to effectively tackle regional disaster relief issues, including complementing the work of relevant ASEAN-led mechanisms on humanitarian assistance.

1.1.1.Support and contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme and the ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN, One Response (OAOR) and the 2018 ARF Statement on Disaster Management Cooperation through concrete and practical and enhanced activities. 

1.1.2.Strengthen civil-military coordination to enhance regional preparedness and response to major natural disasters and conduct regular trainings/activities among ARF Participants and promote participation of civilian and military officials in the ARF ISM on DR.  

1.1.3.Promote sharing of best practices and lessons learnt with other international bodies and organisations dealing with disaster risk reduction and disaster relief, public health, environmental adaptation and resilience, such as the UN, and other regional mechanisms to encourage complementarity. 

1.1.4.Promote capacity building activities for an effective regional disaster response. 

1.1.5.Promote information sharing to jointly enhance the capacity for regionally interoperable disaster assessment, monitoring and early warning, including through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), to facilitate exchange of real-time information and networking. 

1.1.6.Promote rapid deployment and acceptance of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) through established coordination mechanisms and modalities, and enhance cooperation on recovery and reconstruction by implementing activities to build participants’ post-disaster response and recovery capacity. 

1.1.7.Underline the importance of the ARF Work Plan on DR and enhance its implementation to promote the continuity of works in this area of cooperation. 

1.2.Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime

Support the work of the ARF ISM on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) as a framework to effectively enhance regional capacity to respond to terrorism and transnational crime threats, in all their forms.

1.2.1Encourage ARF Participants to accede, ratify, and implement relevant UN international instruments and conventions and to participate actively in international counter terrorism and transnational crime fora. 

1.2.2Support the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its annexed POA. 

1.2.3Strengthen the implementation of legal cooperation among ARF Participants to counter terrorism, and radicalisation to terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism. 

1.2.4Support the development and implementation of national, multilateral and regional strategies and national legal frameworks in the field of counter-terrorism and transnational crime, including anti-money laundering, border security management, countering the financing of terrorism, and online scams through information exchange capacity building, law enforcement cooperation, and other measures, as appropriate. 

1.2.5Encourage cooperation and collaboration to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, radicalisation to terrorism especially online, through conducting activities aimed at sharing best practices on countering terrorism de-radicalisation and disengagement, rehabilitation and reintegration programs, involving youth and persons in vulnerable situations, to prevent and suppress terrorist acts. 

1.2.6Conduct capacity-building initiatives involving relevant authorities on preventing and countering recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), including improving detection and prevention of FTFs, addressing the threats and challenges posed by FTFs who return to home countries or relocate from conflict zones to third countries, and addressing the needs and the situation of women and children associated with FTFs, with due regard for data protection if personal information is to be exchanged. 

1.2.7Carry out activities aimed at addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, enhance efforts to support the victims of terrorism (VOTs), and build communities that are resilient to radicalisation and exploitation by transnational crime networks. Recognising the growing threat of online radicalisation and misuse of digital platforms for terrorist purposes and calls upon the ARF Participants to strengthen law enforcement capacities in this regard.

1.2.8Strengthen and expand activities that promote the Youth, Peace and Security agenda and youth resilience to traditional and emerging peace and security challenges, including terrorist radicalisation, transnational organised crime and propaganda, enabling young people to play a constructive role in sustaining and advancing peace and stability. 

1.2.9Enhance information sharing on terrorism and transnational organised crimes, including operational methods, movements, terrorist financing and its networks and other relevant illicit activities such as money laundering, smuggling and misuse of weapons and explosives, as well as Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) materials. 

1.2.10Enhance timely information sharing, capacity building activities and comparative study on the selection process, training and equipment of the Participants’ anti-terrorist forces. 

1.2.11Strengthen regional counter-terrorism preparedness and cooperation against CBR threats, including through the Network of ASEAN CBR Defence Experts. 

1.2.12Strengthen cooperation among law enforcement agencies to address the threats posed by the production, cultivation, manufacture, criminal networks and trafficking of illicit drugs, prevent drug abuse (including synthetic and new psychoactive substances), prevent criminal exploitation of licit supply chain without negative impact on legitimate business and trade as well as the interest of relevant stakeholders, and promote effective implementation of the 2017 ARF Statement Enhancing Cooperation in Addressing and Countering the Drug Problem. 

1.2.13Promote practical cooperation and information sharing in addressing smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, including for exploitation in online scam centres and their underlying drivers, through existing information-sharing mechanisms, and support effective links between the ARF and relevant regional and international mechanisms and agencies, as appropriate.

1.2.14Enhance border management cooperation among regional law enforcement and border control agencies through joint training and exchanges of best practices to strengthen regional responses to terrorism and transnational crime threats. 

1.2.15Underline the importance of the ARF Work Plan on CTTC and enhance its implementation to ensure the continuity of works in this area of cooperation. 

1.3.Maritime Security 

Support the work of the ARF ISM on Maritime Security (MS) to address maritime security issues. 

1.3.1.Promote compliance and adherence to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to maintain peace, safety and stability in the region, including by conducting or supporting confidence building measures in this regard. 

1.3.2.Strengthen cooperation to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, and enhance maritime security and safety, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, as well as with the relevant Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the relevant instruments and conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

1.3.3.Promote cooperation on maritime security, safety, domain awareness and other emerging issues, such as protecting critical underwater infrastructure, and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through information sharing and technological cooperation activities in line with international and relevant domestic law. 

1.3.4.Strengthen and expand capacity building activities on maritime security issues, the law of the sea, and promote the effective implementation of the ARF Work Plan on MS, as well as all relevant ARF Statements. 

1.3.5.Promote cooperation and synergy between ARF and other ASEAN-led mechanisms, such as ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting – Plus (ADMM-Plus), ASEAN Maritime Forum, Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum and other maritime-related fora, including the IMO, as part of a comprehensive and mutually beneficial approach to maritime cooperation. 

1.3.6.Conduct greater regional ferry safety cooperation with the view to protect lives and to enhance regional connectivity and resilience. 

1.3.7.Forge closer cooperation in maritime search and rescue, combating crimes at sea, including but not limited to, piracy and armed robbery against ships, hijacking, smuggling of people and goods, illicit drug trafficking and trafficking in persons, and illegal trade in marine wildlife, and in preventing and reducing marine plastic debris through concrete and practical activities. 

1.3.8.Enhance information exchange on best practices on sustainable blue/ocean-based economy. 

1.3.9.Promote the protection and preservation of the marine environment, through initiatives on marine environmental protection, including sustainable use of marine resources, biodiversity restoration, sea-based and land-based pollution management, marine debris reduction, and encourage scientific collaboration to enhance capacity to tackle marine debris and prevent and respond to the releases of chemical, biological and radiological substances. 

1.3.10.Promote the environmental development and resilience of coastal communities, including through raising the awareness of maritime issues and adaptation strategies. 

1.3.11.Underline the importance of the ARF Work Plan on MS and enhance the implementation to ensure the continuity of works in this area of cooperation. 

1.4.Non-Proliferation and Disarmament 

Support the work of the ARF ISM on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (NPD) to address issues of non-proliferation, and disarmament, as well as peaceful uses of nuclear technology towards the ultimate goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and a safer place for all.

1.4.1.Explore initiatives with a view to contributing to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. 

1.4.2.Promote ARF contributions to the development of peaceful uses of CBRN technology in sectors like energy, healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing through capacity building, sharing of best practices and experiences. 

1.4.3.Enhance cooperation, including through capacity building, in collaboration with international partners, especially the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in accordance with the ARF Participants’ respective international legal commitments. 

1.4.4.Strengthen cooperation by encouraging compliance with and adherence to, as well as promoting exchange of views on universalisation, implementation, and strengthening of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and enhancing support for the OPCW. 

1.4.5.Promote the implementation of UNSCR 1540 and develop capacity of ARF Participants in export controls to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 

1.4.6.Support regional and national efforts toward the effective implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. 

1.4.7.Promote cooperation on information sharing and experience, best practices, capacity building activities, and exploring the possibility of developing early warning capacity on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear safety, security and risk reduction among ARF Participants. 

1.4.8.Promote cooperation on space security, in particular the prevention of an arms race in outer space, as well as relevant transparency and confidence-building measures, legal and normative frameworks to ensure the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. 

1.4.9.Encourage nuclear weapon States and States parties to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) to work constructively with a view to ensuring the accession of the nuclear weapon States to the Protocol to the Treaty. 

1.4.10.Strengthen cooperation with and utilise, where appropriate, the work of national, regional think tanks, including the ARF Experts and Eminent Persons (EEPs), as well as the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) to assist the work of the ISM on NPD to enhance cooperation. 

1.4.11.Promote cooperation among ARF Participants in addressing issues of emerging technologies, inter alia, Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) in relation to the work of the Group of Governmental Experts of the States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on LAWS and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the military domain. 

1.4.12.Promote cooperation among ARF Participants in addressing the humanitarian impact of mines, including landmines and the indiscriminate use of conventional weapons. Encourage efforts to reduce civilian harm through information exchange, clearance of explosive remnants of war, risk education, victim assistance, and capacity-building in mine action and related areas. Support regional initiatives aimed at enhancing community resilience and reducing the long-term effects of these weapons on post-conflict recovery and development. 

1.4.13.Underline the importance of the ARF Work Plan on NPD and enhance the implementation to promote the continuity of works in this area of cooperation. 

1.5.Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs)

Support the work of the ARF ISM on Security of and in the Use of ICTs including its open-ended study group in promoting and developing an open, safe, secure, stable, accessible, interoperable and peaceful ICT environment to prevent conflicts and crises by developing trust, confidence and cooperation among ARF Participants. 

1.5.1.Implement practical confidence building measures, such as information sharing, capacity building and adopt a set of common, voluntary and non-binding norms of responsible State behaviour, as well as through the continued discussion at the UN Global Mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security and Advancing Responsible State Behaviour in the Use of ICTs. 

1.5.2.Encourage consideration of signing and ratification the UN Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes (Ha Noi Convention) to ensure its early entry into force and its effective implementation as a tool to strengthen global cooperation against cybercrime. 

1.5.3.Encourage collaboration through information sharing, exchange of best practices, study visits, and capacity building efforts, on the basis of consensus to address emerging threats related to the use of ICTs, including AI. This includes enhanced cooperation, through capacity building and law enforcement cooperation on combatting criminal and terrorist use of ICTs, including online scams and online child sexual exploitation and abuse. 

1.5.4.Promote mutual trust and develop and implement confidence building measures to enhance mutual understanding among ARF Participants in the ICT environment through the convening of practical activities to reduce the risk of misperception, miscalculation and escalation of tension leading to conflict. 

1.5.5.Encourage information sharing and strengthen cooperation, raising awareness on threats and emergency responses related to the security of and in the use of ICTs, taking into account cooperation within the ASEAN Regional Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), which is the ASEAN mechanism for promoting and facilitating information-sharing related to “cyber incident response”, and to complement operational efforts by the individual national CERTs of ARF Participants. 

1.5.6.Continue discussion on the terminology related to security of and in the use of ICTs to promote understanding of different national practices and usage. 

1.5.7.Promote cooperation to protect ICT-enabled critical infrastructure, with a view to enhancing security of and in the use of ICTs in the region. 

1.5.8.Encourage participation and update on an annual basis the ARF Points of Contact Directory on Security of and in the Use of ICTs including a connectivity test, the results of which will be reported at the ARF ISM on ICTs Security.  

1.5.9.Underline the importance of the ARF Work Plan on Security of and in the Use of ICTs and enhance its implementation to ensure the continuity of work in this area of cooperation. 

1.6.Defence Cooperation

Promoting defence and security dialogue as well as practical cooperation to enhance regional peace, security and stability. 

1.6.1.Enhance the effective participation of ARF defence officials in ARF activities, including through strengthening and streamlining the role of the ARF Defence Officials’ Dialogue (DOD) and ARF Security Policy Conference (ASPC). 

1.6.2.Strengthen the ARF Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges and Institutions Meeting (HDUCIM) role in sharing best practices in defence education to promote dialogue, mutual understanding, and academic cooperation, and encourage interaction between the HDUCIM and the Network of ASEAN Defence and Security Institutions (NADI) to promote cooperation on security education and research. 

1.6.3.Enhance complementarity and synergy between ARF and the ADMM-Plus to avoid duplication of efforts. 

1.6.4.Promote women's meaningful participation in all processes of prevention, management and resolution of armed conflicts and decision-making, and strengthen gender equality.

1.7.Peacekeeping Operations 

Promote and contribute to the UN peacekeeping and post-conflict peace building efforts, in accordance with the UN peacekeeping guiding principles and the capacity of respective ARF Participants. 

1.7.1.Promote networking among ARF Participants’ peacekeeping centres to encourage dialogue and cooperation among them through information-sharing on best practices as well as capacity-building in peacekeeping, including through the convening of ARF Peacekeeping Experts’ Meeting and the UN Triangular Partnership Project (TPP). 

1.7.2.Promote the implementation of the UN’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative through sharing of best practices among ARF Participants and exploring concrete actions across A4P+ priorities consistent with relevant decisions taken by the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, taking into account the ongoing discussion on the New Agenda for Peace (NA4P) and the Review on the future of all forms of UN Peace Operations process.

1.7.3.Promote cooperation among ARF Participants in strengthening UN Peacekeeping through sharing of best practices and identifying concrete collaborative actions that respond to current challenges faced by UN Peacekeeping, and support the regional and global agendas on peacekeeping. 

1.7.4.Strengthen the capacity of peacekeeping operations to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda, including by increasing deployment and meaningful participation of women at all levels, and incorporating the Women, Peace and Security agenda into the relevant planning and implementation of operations.

2.Confidence-Building Measures and Preventive Diplomacy 

2.1.Acknowledge that, while confidence building would continue to be the main task of the ARF process, ARF’s evolutionary approach of the promotion of confidence building measures, development of preventive diplomacy and elaboration of approaches to conflict resolution is imperative. To this end, ARF Participants intend to conduct concrete and effective CBMs and PD, so as to promote mutual respect, dialogue and consultation, and a culture of peace and non-violence, which can contribute to avoiding misunderstanding and miscalculation, and promote the purposes and principles as enshrined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Charter and the Charter of the United Nations. 

2.2.Stress the importance of creating a favourable environment for enhancing cooperation among ARF Participants in keeping with the principles of consensus, equality, partnership, consultation, and mutual respect, and the value of ARF as a venue for constructive dialogue, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large. 

2.3.Encourage ARF Participants to come up with initiatives to develop concrete and effective ARF responses to emerging challenges, to ensure the ARF remains a relevant platform to discuss new trends that pose real challenges for all ARF Participants. 

2.4.Encourage cooperation in peacebuilding initiatives, including through promoting participation, foster the sharing of best practices, and enhancing capacity building in political and security issues, including in humanitarian assistance and demining, to advance regional peace and stability. 

2.5.Enhance collaboration and dialogue among Track I and Track II practitioners on approaches to traditional and emerging peace and security challenges, including through workshops and sharing of best practices. 

2.6.Support ASEAN’s implementation of the ASEAN Regional Plan on Action on Women, Peace and Security through concrete initiatives in the relevant ARF workstreams. 

2.7.Promote meaningful youth participation by fostering dialogue among governments, with the involvement of Track II practitioners, to exchange experiences, share lessons and best practices, and identify opportunities for cooperation. 

2.8.Continue the annual publication of the ARF Annual Security Outlook (ASO).

2.9.Encourage ARF Participants to propose concrete activities such as workshops, seminars, trainings and the compilation and sharing of best practices on PD to enhance capacity and capabilities. 

2.10.Enhance exchanges and cooperation among defence officials and military training institutions in order to promote trust and mutual understanding, as well as to enhance capacity and capabilities, including by inviting them, where appropriate, to relevant ARF meetings or conducting activities such as workshops, seminars, trainings, and the compilation and sharing of best practices on PD. A database of such engagement will be recorded by the ARF Unit with the assistance of the ARF.

2.11.Utilise, where appropriate, the work of national and regional think tanks as well as ARF EEPs to assist the work of the ARF Inter-Sessional Support Group Meeting (ISG) on CBMs and PD. 

3.Institutional Enhancement 

3.1.Enhance the role of the Chair of the ARF to further promote dialogue and cooperation on political-security issues through information-sharing and coordination among ARF Participants, promotion of confidence building measures, preventive diplomacy activities and conflict resolution initiatives. 

3.2.Enhance the role of the ARF Chair in ensuring the effective and substantive contribution of the ARF Participants to ARF activities and improving the efficiency of its work processes. 

3.3.Strengthen the expertise and personnel capacity of the ARF Unit to assist the ARF Chair in efficiently facilitating the work of the ARF. 

3.4.Utilise the recommendations of the ARF EEPs to strengthen the ARF process, where appropriate. 

3.5.Utilise, where appropriate, the ARF EEPs to assist the work of the ISMs, including by enhancing cooperation with national and regional think tanks. 

3.6.Encourage meaningful Track 1.5 and Track II practitioners’ contributions to the ARF in the relevant workstreams. 

4.Review and Implementation

4.1.The implementation of the POA will be monitored by the ARF ISG on CBMs and PD and annually reported to the ARF Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and the ARF Ministers for evaluation and review to ensure that all its activities are responsive to the needs and priorities of the ARF. The ARF Unit will assist the ARF Chair in recording the implementation, based on input received from ARF Participants. 

4.2.Mid and end of term reviews should be undertaken by the ARF SOM and reported to the Ministers. These reviews should be carried out by the ARF Chair with the assistance of the ARF Unit in the year 2031 and 2036.  

4.3.Co-Chairs of ARF ISMs will facilitate the development and implementation of action lines under the respective areas of cooperation and to review and brief the progress to the ARF ISG on CBMs and PD. The Co-Chairs of the ARF ISG on CBMs and PD will then brief the ARF SOM. 

4.4.Co-Chairs are expected to carry out and lead discussions at the ARF ISM throughout the period of their chairmanship as well as to take the lead in the implementation, review and update of the Work Plan under their respective areas. 

4.5.The progress report of this POA will be prepared by the ARF Unit and submitted to the ARF Ministers for consideration. 

4.6.The implementation of the POA should be maintained as one of the agenda items of the ARF ISG on CBMs and PD and the ARF SOM.  

4.7.Any modification to the POA should be made with the consent of all ARF Participants and adopted by Ministers.