The ongoing war in Ukraine serves as a critical test of ASEAN's resilience, said Dr Phar Kim Beng, Professor of ASEAN Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
"From an ASEAN perspective, the war in Ukraine is not merely a geopolitical contest but a lesson in resilience … that global instability can no longer be outsourced or ignored, and that regionalism must adapt not by rushing to respond, but by preparing to endure," he said in an article shared with Bernama.
Phar observed that, more than three years into the conflict, the war continues without a clear resolution.
While Western nations focus on strategic implications, he noted that ASEAN leaders are more concerned about how prolonged instability could reshape global trade and economic governance, directly impacting Southeast Asia.
Despite ASEAN's relative silence on the Ukraine conflict, Phar emphasised that this should not be mistaken for indifference.
"ASEAN is not idle. The war has accelerated the region’s efforts to strengthen food security, build supply chain resilience, and pursue currency diversification.
"It reflects ASEAN’s long-standing principles of non-interference, strategic neutrality and its cautious balancing of relations with external powers," he said.
He also highlighted that ASEAN's core focus in 2025 lies in economic resilience, including efforts to finalise the long-pending EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, ensure coherence within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and brace for the impact of escalating US tariffs under a second Trump administration.
"The Ukraine war is less a call to arms and more a warning – that the liberal international order is no longer coherent. Each region must now find its own footing."
He added that ASEAN's response should be to reinforce its institutions, deepen regional integration, and remain vigilant as global rules continue to shift.
The current phase of the Russia-Ukraine conflict began on February 24, 2022, when Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The war has resulted in substantial casualties and displacement, with both sides engaged in ongoing hostilities and diplomatic efforts for resolution.