FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS FOREIGN POLICY OF ASEAN MEMBER STATES VOLUME 4

Abstract

ASEAN was formed on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand by the five founding countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, through the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. The strong desire of the founders of ASEAN is to create a Southeast Asia region that is peaceful, safe, stable and prosperous. This was raised because the situation in the region in the 1960s was faced with a conflict-prone situation, namely the struggle for the ideological influence of the big countries and conflicts between countries in the region, which could disrupt regional stability and hinder development  if  left  unchecked. Currently, ASEAN consists of 10 countries, and 1 non-permanent country (Timor-Leste). The main objective of the membership of ASEAN countries is  to promote peaceful dispute resolution, not to interfere in the internal affairs  of ASEAN member countries, and to respect fundamental freedoms, to promote and protect human rights, and to promote social justice.