From Julia Roknifard
Against the optimistic expectations of the liberal order proliferating across the globe, defence alliances and security groupings are instead becoming sharper and more assertive as countries both big and small seek refuge within them.
While the West still anchors itself in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Russia relies on the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), China now leads the relatively new Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Albeit with no direct security focus, emerging blocs such as BRICS and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are extending their influence, signalling a decisive shift towards multipolarity.
Each offers its members a measure of collective support and strategic leverage. Meanwhile, Asean still lacks formal military and security coordination among its members, but this is set to change as the lack of such a structure severely limits the grouping’s options.
Asean occupies one of the world’s most…