Egypt, ASEAN countries urge preventive diplomacy

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has called for a significant strengthening of multilateral action and preventive diplomacy to address an escalating wave of global crises.

Speaking in Manila at a high-level summit bringing together signatory states of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the foreign minister presented Cairo’s strategic vision for conflict resolution and peacebuilding on the global stage.

Highlighting the mounting pressures facing international security, Minister Abdelatty emphasized that the world is confronting an unprecedented surge in complex, interconnected conflicts. He noted that the ripple effects of modern geopolitical instability rarely remain confined to direct combatants, instead spilling across borders to disrupt trade, undermine global economic stability, and derail long-term development—particularly across nations in the Global South. To combat these risks, he advocated for a comprehensive approach to preventive diplomacy that bridges sustainable peacebuilding with socio-economic advancement, institutional strengthening, and proactive measures to prevent the reignition of past tensions.

Central to Egypt’s address was a call for more effective, inclusive multilateralism spearheaded by the United Nations alongside key regional organizations, including the African Union, the Arab League, and ASEAN. Abdelatty urged international partners to overhaul the global financing architecture, prioritizing investments in sectors that foster long-term stability and resilience. On security threats such as organized crime and terrorism, the minister advocated for deeper intelligence sharing and coordinated efforts to cut off illicit funding networks while maintaining strict respect for state sovereignty. Although Egypt is neither a full ASEAN member nor a formal dialogue partner, its 2016 accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation has enabled Cairo to actively contribute to key ministerial gatherings, including the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila.

MK/Sf/fss/abj/APA