Saudi Arabia Joins ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Saudi Arabia has officially joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) after signing the Instrument of Accession today, July 12, at the ASEAN ministerial meeting in Jakarta.

“We welcome Saudi Arabia to the ASEAN Family,” Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said after witnessing the signing by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.

TAC was initiated in 1976 as a legally binding code of conduct that govern relations between countries within and outside the region. Accession by Saudi Arabia brings the number of High Contracting Parties to the TAC to 51.

Foreign Ministers of the member countries and Secretary General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn witnessed the signing at the Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta.

Retno said that the signing of the TAC shows Saudi’s commitment to cooperating and collaborating, upholding international law, and contributing to peace and stability in Southeast Asia and beyond. These values and principles are vital to be implemented amid current geopolitical dynamics.

“Together, we must be a positive force for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” Retno remarked.

The ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday, July 11, addressed the interest of the Republic of Serbia to join the TAC. ASEAN also assigned its secretariat to review Algeria's application.

As the chair of ASEAN this year, Indonesia would seek the inclusion of Panama, Spain, and Mexico in the TAC, on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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