ASEAN member states number about 670 million people. It is one of the largest economic entities in the world, and the contract that Serbia signed with this organization is a great opportunity for the Serbian economy. On the other hand, since these are countries that care about respecting international law, Serbia is gaining a new foreign policy partner.
Journalist and foreign policy analyst Borislav Korkodelović comments on the signing of the Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation with Southeast Asian Countries between Serbia and ASEAN.
We remind you that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, signed the instrument of accession to the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in Jakarta, where the 43rd ASEAN Summit is being held. For Dacic, the Treaty is a good basis for strengthening Serbia in that part of the world.
A very grateful political partner
Although four ASEAN member states recognized the independence of Kosovo and Metohija, they did so either because they are purely Muslim, such as Malaysia and Brunei, or under American pressure, as Thailand and Singapore did, our interlocutor explains.
According to him, ASEAN is a very grateful foreign policy partner – the members adhere to international law because of their interests, while Indonesia is the largest, most influential and irreplaceable member; a great friend of former Yugoslavia and today’s Serbia, emphasizes Korkodelović.
What can Serbia offer to ASEAN?
According to Korkodelović, it is good that Serbia signed the Treaty of Friendship with ASEAN, because this organization is becoming one of the key players in the world, and Asia is becoming a key part of the world. When looking at economic entities, like ASEAN or the EU, ASEAN is the fifth or sixth economic power in the world.
“But ASEAN is constantly progressing, its GDP is now around four trillion dollars, and it is expected to be the fourth economic entity in the world in the future. Indonesia, as the largest economy in the organization, is seventh in the world. So, these are increasingly serious businesses,” explains Korkodelović.
