World Order Lab Participates in the 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit
World Order Lab extends its appreciation to the Singapore Institute of International Affairs for the kind invitation and opportunity to participate in the 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit, as well as to the organizers, partners, and supporting institutions for bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering meaningful discussions on ASEAN’s future and regional cooperation.
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Image Courtesy of ASEAN Secretariat.
World Order Lab’s Lead Analyst & Chair of Non-Proliferation Working Group Katherine Viella Irwanto and Senior Communications Associate Alfath Aziz Kurnia participated in the 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit (ATTS), held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on September 14 - 15, 2026.
The annual summit is an initiative of the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS) Network, convened by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat. The 3rd ATTS brought together more than 150 experts, researchers, policymakers, and representatives from think tanks and research institutions across ASEAN and its Dialogue and Development Partners to exchange perspectives and contribute ideas to ASEAN’s policy discussions.
Held under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” in line with the 2026 Philippine ASEAN Chairship, the two-day summit featured discussions on peace and dialogue, ASEAN Centrality, transnational security challenges, energy security and economic resilience, sustainability and agricultural resilience, and AI skilling and adoption among Southeast Asian MSMEs. The discussions aimed to develop practical recommendations for strengthening ASEAN’s resilience, relevance, and capacity for regional cooperation, with key insights contributing to a policy memorandum ahead of the ASEAN Summit in November 2026.
What are Katherine and Alfath's key takeaways and observations from the summit?
"ASEAN is now facing a compound of challenges arising from both external pressures and its internal dynamics, with the heated major power rivalry continuously compelling ASEAN to choose sides and making it imperative for ASEAN to consolidate itself from within. To do so, ASEAN should identify points of cooperation on emerging security issues such as food security, climate change, and the consequences of emerging technology on the socio-economic aspects of our lives, while leveraging existing mechanisms instead of creating new platforms that require more resources. At the same time, ASEAN must reflect on its fundamental principles, such as the TAC, and adapt their implementation to the new reality, avoid the trap of bilateralism, and instill a mindset of crisis prevention to ensure that the institution remains the go-to place for member states to resolve issues and settle disputes, with greater cohesion rather than pointing fingers." --- Katherine Viella Irwanto, Lead Analyst & Chair of Non-Proliferation Working Group
"ASEAN is and will continue to face challenges shaped by geopolitical and economic developments. In addition, the emergence of non-traditional security threats, such as climate change and cyber threats, further highlights the need for stronger cooperation and compromise among ASEAN Member States to address these challenges effectively.The Summit also served as a reminder that ASEAN needs to continuously reflect on the TAC, particularly on its implementation and whether the values and principles it contains remain relevant to addressing contemporary challenges. Rather than continuously creating new mechanisms to respond to every emerging issue, ASEAN should focus on strengthening and improving its existing mechanisms to ensure that they remain effective and responsive to the changing regional landscape." --- Alfath Aziz Kurnia, Senior Communications Associate
Image Courtesy of World Order Lab.
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