ASEAN countries have a strong tradition of military cooperation, Mr Teo said.
These include various training arrangements and the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is a meeting of the ASEAN chiefs of defence.
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to multi-lateral security, but there are a few guiding principles regional partners should pay heed to.
These principles include collective responsibility for all, the inclusion of non-regional partners and respect for international law.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean laid out these points at the 9th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers, organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, on Monday.
ASEAN countries have a strong tradition of military cooperation, Mr Teo said.
These include various training arrangements and the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is a meeting of the ASEAN chiefs of defence.
Capacity-building for humanitarian assistance is also a growing focus among countries.
Mr Teo noted that the ASEAN Regional Forum recently proposed a standby arrangement for disaster relief.
But he added that security now goes beyond military cooperation.
He said: "Today's military officers have to familiarise themselves with situations which call for both civil and military forces to work side by side – from management of threats to transition-planning for a UN peacekeeping force.
"As such, avenues which strengthen the capacity for a civil-military cooperation contribute to regional security."
