MSC hosts Roundtable on Regional Security in Singapore

The meeting highlighted some of the very specific and immediate ways in which threats to security in one region reverberate in other regions. Or, as one participant put it, "The world is becoming a single security theatre." Two figures quoted during the discussions illustrate this: If Russia were to be successful in its war of aggression against Ukraine, it would control 40 percent of the world’s grain markets. Conversely, today 40 percent of EU trade already runs through the South China Sea, one of the potential hotspots in the region.

A small number of aggressive states are working actively to undermine the rules-based order as we know it. They support each other in their efforts to create instability in their respective neighborhoods, thus threatening peace and prosperity. Specifically, Russian cooperation with North Korea has literally skyrocketed: Russia employs North Korean munitions and even ballistic missiles in its war against Ukraine. At the same time, North Korea receives Russian assistance for its space program — a serious threat to peace on the Korean peninsula.

Against this backdrop, participants agreed that constantly upholding international rules and strengthening global and regional institutions is key. The risk is, in the words of one participant, that the international order suffers "death by a thousand cuts." By joining sanctions against Russia, some Asian states have already made an unprecedented foray into European security issues, creating momentum for deeper coordination. Transatlantic actors are also showing more presence in Southeast Asia and are willing to engage with partners in the region. Collaborative partnerships should be nurtured wherever possible to build long-term trust.