By Ambassador (p) Gheorghe Savuica*
The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) was established in 1976 and embodies universal principles of peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation among States in Southeast Asia. It is a legally-binding code for inter-state relations in the region and beyond.
TAC created the positive circumstances for peace, friendship and cooperation in Southeast Asia, the engine being ASEAN. Five decades since it was initiated and signed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, The Philippines and Thailand, the treaty’s reach has now expanded to 62 states.
The accession of Romania to TAC, together with Poland, Sweden and Lithuania, took place on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Friday (July 24, 2026).
At the initiative of The Philippines, the Chair of ASEAN for 2026, ASEAN member countries marked on that day the 50th year of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
After the accession, Romania became one of the High Contracting Parties to the TAC, as a result of two years of diplomatic efforts supported by the Parliament and Government of Romania and facilitated by the very good historic relations so happily existing with the member countries of ASEAN. This significant end result, the cordial and encouraging statements from the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ma. Theresa Lazaro and the full support from all friendly ASEAN member countries are a great honor for Romania and its foreign policy. It should be taken as an expectation to reach the next level, i.e., the materialization. It could be a suitable privilege to promote the national interests of Romania through concrete measures and projects.
As High Contracting Party, Romania got now the legal condition to enter into direct partnership with ASEAN.
In the official statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, dated 24th of July, 2026, it was made clear that the signing of the Instruments of Accession to the Treaty “reconfirmed the commitment of Romania to strengthening cooperation with ASEAN and its member countries”.
It is very important that the official statement is underlying the two- dimensions of cooperation – with ASEAN as organization and with ASEAN member states.
IRSEA promoted for a long time the necessity and the advantage for Romania to enter into direct relations with ASEAN as organization by complementing the direct bilateral relations and the EU partnership with ASEAN. The historical argument is based on the position of Romania on the foundation of ASEAN, to which I brought my humble contribution as a very junior diplomat in 1967. Romania was among the first foreign countries that officially recognized ASEAN according to its own Charter, respectively, as a regional association for economic cooperation, while some other countries considered ASEAN as a substitute to the deceased military SEATO.
Romania’s accession to TAC, without any hesitation or doubts, represents a timely and significantly important political decision. It is, as well, a positive sign of prefigurating much stronger and vibrant bilateral relations with ASEAN and 11 ASEAN member countries.
In its official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania identified high education, digital competence, cyber security, research and innovation as the fields of future cooperation with ASEAN within the framework of an ASEAN Sectorial Dialogue Partnership.
A realistic approach of today situation of the current bilateral relations of Romania with ASEAN member countries, according to the official site of MFA, presents a picture of rear and law level developments. It is higher time for a well-established and solid foreign policy strategy on Asia-Pacific.
Concluding, I would like to stress that my above expressed opinion on two dimensions of the development of Romania’s relations with ASEAN as organization and ASEAN member countries is inclusive and complementary.
IRSEA will continue to support and bring its contribution to enhance the friendship and mutually beneficial bilateral relations between Romania and all countries from Asia-Pacific.
* The author is the Founder and President of IRSEA and Founder and Honorary President of Romania-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is a graduate of Moscow State Institute of International Relations. As a career diplomat with over four decades of diplomatic service, an University recognized specialist on Southeast Asia and ASEAN, speaker of Bahasa Indonesia, Russian and English, he represented Romania as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Pakistan and Indonesia and Chief of Mission, with Cabinet Letter, to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cyprus, Finland and Estonia.
He published multiple articles, thought-pieces and commentaries reflecting his views on current dynamics in International Affairs and the ongoing developments related to the greater scope of Europe Asia relations. He authored several major chapters in edited volumes on Romania’s Foreign Policy, published by the Romanian Academy.
Ambassador (p) Savuica is a former Director of the Republic of Moldova Division, former Director of the Asia Pacific Division and former Director General of the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROMANIA.
He is married and has two daughters, a granddaughter and a grandson.