Assessing the Implementation of Commitments to Ensure Water Security among Mekong Subregional Countries (1995-2025)

Background and objective: Water security in the Mekong River Basin constitutes a critical foundation for sustainable development, human security, and regional stability. Since the 1995 Mekong Agreement, Mekong subregional countries have developed cooperation mechanisms such as the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC). This article assesses the implementation of water security commitments from 1995 to 2025, focusing on institutional effectiveness and equity.Methods: The study employs an interdisciplinary qualitative approach combining policy analysis, comparative institutional assessment, and the Water-Energy-Food nexus framework. Key legal instruments, policy documents, and cooperation practices under the MRC and LMC mechanisms are analyzed.Results: The findings indicate that regional cooperation has strengthened institutional capacity, improved data sharing, and facilitated policy dialogue, particularly in flood and drought management. However, implementation outcomes remain constrained by weak legal enforceability, institutional fragmentation, and asymmetric benefit distribution between upstream and downstream countries.Conclusion: The article argues that sustainable water security in the Mekong Basin requires a shift from predominantly technical cooperation toward water diplomacy for human sustainable development, emphasizing transparency, benefit equity, and human-centered governance to enhance long-term regional cooperation.