MANILA (Bernama-PNA): Unity among Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) members is crucial in addressing evolving maritime security challenges in the region, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said united Asean member states will preserve regional stability.
"Asean has always drawn its strength from unity of purpose. That unity must continue to guide us not only in preserving what we have built -- but in shaping what comes next," he said in a media release Sunday.
Brawner issued the comment during the Philippine Navy Maritime Security Symposium 2026, themed "Maritime Security in South-East Asia: Navigating Continuity and Change Through Asean” where he was the keynote speaker on Friday.
He highlighted the symposium's role as a platform for meaningful collaboration and collective action among regional partners.
"Let this symposium serve not only as a venue for dialogue, but as a shared commitment to act with clarity, to cooperate with purpose, and to uphold a maritime domain that remains a source of stability and connection for all,” Brawner said.
The security symposium, launched by the Navy in 2015 as part of its anniversary activities, serves as a vital platform for stakeholders to exchange insights on emerging issues and strengthen cooperation toward a safe and secure maritime environment.
-- BERNAMA-PNA
