Joint military exercises and security ordering in Southeast Asia

Despite their increasing frequency, or the plethora of studies on defense engagement and diplomacy, from arms transfer to major visits and industrial partnerships, it is puzzling that joint military exercises remain understudied. This is particularly as they are important features of the international order. This article introduces this special issue on "Joint Military Exercises and Security Ordering in Southeast Asia", which evaluates joint military exercises between states in Southeast Asia as part of the micro-foundation of the international security order within the Asia-Pacific. The issue consists of five articles providing in-depth analysis of different bilateral, minilateral, and multilateral exercises that have shaped the regional security order in Southeast Asia for decades. Specifically, the articles focus on three Southeast Asian states—Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand—as well as two prominent groupings of states in the region; the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Five Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA).