ASEAN must lead in navigating multipolar world - Mohamad

ASEAN should take a more proactive role in navigating the complexities of a rapidly evolving multipolar world, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, urging the bloc to leverage its diversity and adaptability as a model for global governance.

Mohamad highlighted the region's potential to chart a middle path amid rising geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and global challenges such as climate change.

“The answer to our biggest global questions may not lie at the extremities of any geopolitical spectrum but rather in the middle,” Mohamad said in a keynote address at the 15th Asian Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club in Kuala Lumpur.

He also cautioned against reducing ASEAN's role to a "buffer zone" between the U.S. and China, calling it an underestimation of the bloc's significance.

“This framing belittles the significant role we play. ASEAN represents a different model of engagement, one that fosters shared decision-making among states with diverse governance systems,” he said.

ASEAN’s consensus-driven approach, Mohamad argued, could inspire a new multipolar order, where influence is defined not by military power but by the ability to facilitate dialogue and cooperation.

The minister also stressed the importance of resilience in the face of economic disruptions, urging ASEAN to diversify supply chains, establish strategic reserves, and invest in digital trade infrastructure.

“Geo-economic resilience is about building systems that are not just reactive but designed to mitigate risk,” Mohamad said.

He also addressed climate change, calling it an existential threat that transcends borders. ASEAN, he noted, has integrated climate action into its economic planning, with ambitious renewable energy goals and the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation.

Looking ahead to Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, Mohamad outlined a vision focused on inclusivity, sustainability, and reinforcing ASEAN centrality.

“Our diversity is not a barrier but a strength. We aim to advance global goals, develop people-driven policies, and create innovative frameworks to ensure the region is future-ready,” he said.

He concluded by reaffirming ASEAN’s resilience, drawing on the bloc's history of overcoming challenges.

“ASEAN has weathered over half a century of upheaval. While the world faces new and complex threats, I have no doubt that we can look to ASEAN for a stable path forward,” Mohamad said.