Perkembangan Five Power Defence Arranggements dalam Menanggapi Dinamika Keamanan Asia Tenggara pasca Perang Dingin

The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) is a regional security institution in Southeast Asia, with Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and United Kingdom as its members. As one of the oldest, and still existing, regional security institution in the Southeast Asia region, FPDA’s existence seems to be unheard of, compared to the region’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or even the Cold War’s Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). Although FPDA was created in the height of the Cold War, as well as in response to the potential hegemonic Indonesian threat to former British colonies, the institution is still exist even after both original existential threat wanes. In the end, how the FPDA can maintain its existence in the changing security dynamics in the region, especially after the end of the Cold War, is an interesting piece of puzzle to be solved.

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

Tenth meeting: The tenth meeting of the Council of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was held in London on May 3–5, 1965, under the chairmanship of Michael Stewart, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom. Other member governments were represented by Paul Hasluck, Minister for External Affairs of Australia; D. J. Eyre, Minister of Defense of New Zealand; Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan; Librado D. Cayco, Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines; Thanat Khoman, Minister of Foreign Aflairs of Thailand; and George W. Ball, Under Secretary of State of the United States. Achille Clarac, French Ambassador in Bangkok and Council representative for France, also attended the London session as an observer. (On April 20 the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced that France would not send a delegation to the meeting although Ambassador Clarac would be present as an observer only.)

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

The Council of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) held its ninth annual meeting in Manila on April 13–15, 1964, under the chairmanship of Salvador P. Lopez, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. The communiqué issued at the close of the meeting expressed the Ministers' contention that SEATO had had, and continued to have, a most important stabilizing influence in Southeast Asia. Despite the sharpening of the Sino-Soviet dispute, the Council agreed that world domination remained the aim of communism and that vigilance could not therefore be relaxed. In addition to measures to deter overt aggression and active insurgency, the Ministers agreed that emphasis on the development of economic and social conditions should be continued in order to strengthen national resistance to subversion. Reaffirming that the determination of national policy rested with individual governments, the Council declared that material support and encouragement should be given to those nations which, in defending themselves, needed and requested such support.

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Council held its eighth meeting in Paris from April 8 to 10, 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. Maurice Couve de Murville, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France. According to the communiqué released at the close of the meeting, the Council discussed the situation in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Ministers noted that considerable progress had been achieved in the fight against subversion in Vietnam and that one might expect a new improvement in the situation thanks to the efforts made by the Vietnamese government. It was hoped that South Vietnam, with the support given to it, would be in a position to maintain its advance toward internal stability and international security. The Council reiterated its support for a neutral and independent Laos and took note of the deployment of troops from some member countries in Thailand in May 1962.

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Council of Ministers held its seventh annual meeting on March 27–29, 1961, in Bangkok, Thailand. The ministers exchanged information on matters affecting the treaty area and studied the report of the military advisers, who had met the preceding week. In an official statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the Council announced that if the current efforts to end hostilities in Laos failed, and active military attempts to obtain control of the country continued, the members of SEATO were prepared, within the terms of its treaty, to take whatever action might be appropriate in the circumstances. The Council noted with concern the continued offensive by rebel elements in Laos, who were continuing to be supplied and assisted by communist powers in flagrant disregard of the Geneva Accords, and emphasized that SEATO had no aggressive intentions. The Council desired a united, independent, and sovereign Laos, not subordinate to any nation or group of nations. The statement also expressed concern at the efforts of an armed minority, supported from the outside, to destroy the government of Vietnam and declared SEATO's firm resolve not to acquiesce in any such takeover of that country. Finally, the Council recorded its view that the organization should continue to keep developments in Laos and Vietnam under urgent and constant review. On other aspects of the situation in the treaty area, the Council firmly reiterated the need for collective defense, and for economic and social development. The Council stressed the importance of continuing to develop good relations and of increasing the sense of community among free countries in the area. The Council noted that further progress had been made during the year in jointly studying techniques of subversion and insurgency and in exchanging information on means of countering such activities. It noted with satisfaction the planning work of the military advisers, the reorganization of the military planning office, and the effective coordination achieved by the forces of member countries in the several military exercises conducted during the past year.