6th NATO Asia-Pacific Dialogue

ASPI recently participated in the 6th NATO Asia-Pacific Dialogue, held on 15-16 September in Tokyo, Japan.

The theme for this year’s Dialogue was ‘Interconnected security – the Asia-Pacific and NATO’, with Jacinta Carroll, Head of ASPI’s Counter-Terrorism Policy Centre presenting on ‘Communication challenges in the time of hybrid conflicts’ as part of a panel discussion.

The Dialogue was attended by NATO officials as well as researchers and officials from across the Asia-Pacific region. The Dialogue provides a unique opportunity to exchange views on current security challenges and opportunities as well as opportunities for collaboration and cooperation. The Dialogue commenced with an open panel discussion on ‘Asian security dynamics and NATO partnerships’,  before proceeding into a full-day closed door dialogue.  

Discussion at the Dialogue focussed on the importance of long-time investments in trust-building measures and in political dialogue. Conference participants confirmed the necessity of a comprehensive and not exclusively military approach to analysing security challenges to assuring crisis prevention and readiness of all partners.

The Dialogue was organised by the Singapore office of Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and a report will be forthcoming.