Four European nations join ASEAN Bali treaty amid expanding ties

Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Sweden have acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a key diplomatic framework underpinning relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its external partners.

The accession was formalised during a ministerial-level signing ceremony held on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related gatherings in Manila, the Philippines, ASEAN said in a statement.

“On 24 July 2026, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn witnessed the ministerial-level signing ceremony of the instruments of accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, Romania, and the Kingdom of Sweden on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines,” the statement said.

With the addition of the four European countries, the number of signatories to the treaty has risen to 62.

ASEAN said the ceremony, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the agreement, highlights its “enduring relevance and growing importance,” as well as continued interest from external partners.

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, signed in Indonesia in 1976, establishes principles for peaceful coexistence and cooperation and serves as a cornerstone of ASEAN’s engagement with dialogue partners.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

By Tamilla Hasanova