November 21, 2025 | 09:12 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by focusing on three key areas: sustainable development, community relations, and regional security. This was conveyed by the UK Ambassador to ASEAN, Helen Fazey, during a media gathering at the British Embassy in South Jakarta on Friday, November 21, 2025.
Five Years of Partnership and ASEAN Centrality
Fazey mentioned that 2026 will mark the fifth year of the UK's official dialogue partner status with ASEAN. "Next year will be the commemoration of our fifth year as an official dialogue partner of ASEAN, and I think there is much to celebrate," she said. She elaborated that this partnership has rapidly developed since the UK established a mission to ASEAN and expressed interest in being a dialogue partner.
According to her, the UK did this as a form of recognition and support for ASEAN's centrality and its significant role in the region's prosperity and stability. "This includes joint efforts to address global challenges such as climate change," Fazey stated.
Support for Energy Transition and Strengthening of MSMEs
In her remarks, Fazey stated that the UK is increasing its support for green transition funding and collaborating with the United Nations on sustainable projects and energy efficiency. The UK is also pushing for the acceleration of clean energy and low-carbon economic development across ASEAN.
She mentioned that the UK is also supporting the development of the creative economy and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region. "We will support ASEAN and its member countries in developing this economic sector," she said.
Scholarships and Educational Exchanges
Intercommunity relations are also a significant focus for the UK. Fazey stated that they are committed to increasing scholarships for ASEAN member countries, including support for the joint ASEAN-Chevening scholarships for women in the STEM field. "We support basic learning, which is literacy and numeracy skills," she said. Additionally, the UK will promote increased exchanges in the fields of education, research, culture, and youth.
Security Issues in ASEAN
Regarding security issues, Fazey stated that the UK supports multilateralism and rules-based international systems for addressing climate change, organized crime, and maintaining maritime security with ASEAN. The UK is also reinforcing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda through regional-level action plans. "ASEAN is the only multilateral organization that has plans at that level. We also work with several member countries on a bilateral basis," she added.
According to the UK Mission to ASEAN report, the UK has achieved 95 percent of the Five-Year Action Plan between ASEAN and the UK since becoming a dialogue partner in 2021.
Editor's Choice: Safe, Clean, Sustainable: Is ASEAN's New Declaration Enough?
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