The Middle Power Potential of ASEAN: Capabilities and Constraints in Maintaining Regional Stability

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising ten member states in Southeast Asia, plays a pivotal role in maintaining regional security and stability. Its capacity as a regional actor is underpinned by a robust legal foundation, encompassing internal agreements, international legal instruments, and a shared commitment among member states to uphold peace and order in the region. These frameworks collectively support ASEAN’s identity and function as a middle power in regional security governance. Positioned strategically along major global trade routes and situated amidst intensifying great power rivalries, ASEAN has emerged as a key stabilizing actor in the Indo-Pacific. Through institutional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), the organization has actively engaged in addressing both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including maritime disputes in the South China Sea and the growing threat of terrorism. Despite its achievements, ASEAN faces notable internal constraints, such as divergent national interests among member states and the increasing external influence of major powers, which may hinder its collective autonomy and decision-making coherence. Nevertheless, ASEAN holds significant potential to enhance its role as a middle power, particularly in fostering multilateral cooperation on non-traditional security issues. This study examines ASEAN’s capacity across five key dimensions: strategic geographical positioning, institutional architecture, response to security challenges, internal limitations, and future prospects. By adhering to a consensus-based diplomatic model and an inclusive regional approach, ASEAN continues to be a critical actor in shaping and sustaining regional security and order. Keywords: ASEAN, regional security, middle power, multilateral cooperation, Southeast Asia.