Defense Diplomacy and Disaster Response: Enhancing ASEAN’s Collective Security Capabilities

The ASEAN region is highly susceptible to natural disasters, necessitating a coordinated and robust disaster response framework to ensure regional security and stability. One important instrument for strengthening ASEAN's combined capacity for disaster response is defense diplomacy. This study examines how defense diplomacy may help ASEAN member nations manage disasters by promoting collaboration, establishing mutual trust, and enhancing interoperability. To illustrate their contributions to regional disaster preparedness and response, important mechanisms like the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), ADMM-Plus, and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) are examined. The efficacy of coordinated military operations and the strategic significance of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) are demonstrated by case studies, such as Typhoon Haiyan (2013) and the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami. The study offers suggestions for enhancing regional frameworks, capacity building, and technology integration. It also discusses issues including political sensitivities, resource inequities, and coordination. According to the findings, defense diplomacy is crucial for maintaining ASEAN's security and fostering cooperation within the region