Philippines Advances Regional Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in Week of Engagements

MANILA 17 March 2025 — The Philippines will host a series of high-level engagements this week, reaffirming its leadership in regional disarmament, non-proliferation, and strategic security cooperation.

Secretary Enrique Manalo said the hosting of the meetings in Manila this week are “part of the Philippines’ responsibility to actively assist international efforts to strengthen norms and build trust and confidence across important issues of arms control and humanitarian disarmament.” He expressed the hope that discussions “will not only bring together experts and delegates from more than 30 countries but also forge a spirit of camaraderie and solidarity amongst partners in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.” This is in accordance with the country’s firm commitment to international security and a rules-based order. 

The country will welcome Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) on 18 March 2025, for a series of engagements highlighting the Philippines’ role in nuclear disarmament and the broader applications of CTBT monitoring technology, particularly in disaster risk reduction. 

The Philippines will also host the Southeast Asia and Pacific Regional Workshop on the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) on 18-19 March 2025 in Manila, gathering regional and international partners to advance efforts in banning cluster munitions and strengthening humanitarian disarmament. 

The week will conclude with the Philippines’ co-chairing the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Intersessional Meeting on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament on 20-21 March 2025 with senior officials of Australia and New Zealand. The Meeting of the ARF, a long-standing platform for regional security dialogue and cooperation amongst 27 members including 10 ASEAN member states, will focus on strengthening regional confidence building mechanisms to prevent the proliferation of weapons. END

For updates on these events, visit www.dfa.gov.ph.