JAKARTA, 14 September 2026 – The 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit (ATTS) convened today at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. The two-day event brings together experts from leading think tanks and research institutions across ASEAN and its Dialogue and Development Partners to share analysis and provide direct input to officials.
Aligned with the theme of the current Philippine ASEAN Chairmanship, “Navigating Our Future, Together”, this year’s ATTS examines how ASEAN can strengthen its resilience, relevance, and cooperation to navigate an increasingly challenging and complex global environment.
With the support of the ASEAN Secretariat, the ATTS is convened annually by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) on behalf of the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), an association of think tanks founded in 1988 and registered officially as an ASEAN entity.
Established in 2024, the ATTS aims to strengthen Track-Two engagement by providing a platform for the region’s think tank community to exchange perspectives, deepen collaboration, and contribute policy recommendations on key issues facing ASEAN.
The 3rd ATTS is supported by its principal partners and sponsors: the Australian Mission to ASEAN; the German Federal Foreign Office implemented by GIZ; Embassy of Switzerland to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN; the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the Singapore Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
In his keynote address, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, emphasised, “ASEAN has never advanced by standing still. We have advanced by thinking collectively, deciding together, and moving in concert.” Highlighting the role of Track-Two diplomacy, he added, “As ASEAN looks ahead to its 60th anniversary and advances the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the contribution of our think tank community will remain important in helping ASEAN anticipate changes, strengthen resilience, and navigate our future, together.”
Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) and convenor of the ATTS on behalf of ASEAN-ISIS, Mr. Simon Tay, said: “In this fast-changing world, there are growing expectations of ASEAN from members and partners. Think tanks can and should play a role to encourage, analyse, and share ideas for new initiatives and policies.”
Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN, H.E. Tiffany McDonald, said: “Australia sees ASEAN at the centre of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region. As ASEAN approaches its 60th year, its enduring strength lies in its convening power and commitment to dialogue, building understanding and reducing the risk of miscalculation. Australia is pleased to support the ASEAN Think Tanks Summit which provides a valuable platform for experts, researchers and policymakers to contest ideas, exchange perspectives and develop solutions to the challenges facing our shared region.”
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to ASEAN, H.E. Ralf Beste, said: “Europe and ASEAN face many of the same challenges such as climate change or threats to the rules-based world order, built around international law. But they also share many opportunities when it comes to trade, the digital sphere or sustainable energy supplies. I am proud that Germany is supporting this Think Tanks Summit where thought leaders from ASEAN and Europe come together to identify a path forward for navigating the future to the benefit of both our regions.”
Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Switzerland to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN, Mr. Mathias Domenig, said: “For Switzerland, a vibrant civil society and an active community of independent thinkers are not only an expression of democratic participation, but also a valuable source of innovative, state-of-the-art solutions. They help bring diverse perspectives into policymaking and contribute to development that is more inclusive, sustainable and forward-looking. We are pleased to contribute to this year’s ASEAN Think-Tank Summit.”
Over the two days of the ATTS, three plenary sessions will examine and deliberate the topics of investing in peace and dialogue and the role of regional organisations and middle powers; the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and ASEAN Centrality; and transnational security challenges and their implications for ASEAN and its Indo-Pacific partners.
Complementing the plenary discussions, dedicated workstreams will address the nexus between regional energy resilience and economic security; sustainability and agricultural sector resilience; and AI skilling and adoption by Southeast Asian MSMEs.
The discussions seek to identify practical recommendations to strengthen ASEAN’s capacity to respond to geopolitical uncertainty, economic and energy shocks, climate risks, technological change and evolving security challenges.
Key insights and recommendations from the ATTS will contribute to a policy memo to feed into ASEAN’s official summits in November 2026, as well as a roadmap for future ATTS workstreams.
The 3rd ATTS was attended by more than 150 participants from the ASEAN Member States and external partners, highlighting the extensive regional and international engagement in promoting and facilitating Track-Two diplomacy and dialogue.
The success of this year’s ATTS underscores ASEAN’s vital role in today’s volatile and uncertain global landscape, highlighting its continued relevance on the world stage while drawing on its collective strengths as a bloc to find shared solutions to regional and global challenges.
About the ASEAN Think Tanks Summit
The ASEAN Think Tanks Summit (ATTS) is an initiative of the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS). Established in 2024, the ATTS provides a platform for think tanks and research institutions from ASEAN and its Dialogue and Development Partners to exchange views, strengthen networks and build research collaboration on issues affecting the region. The ATTS is convened annually by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) on behalf of ASEAN-ISIS, in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat.
About the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967. Today, ASEAN comprises eleven Member States: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Find out more at https://asean.org.
About the Australian Mission to ASEAN
The Australian Mission to ASEAN was established in 2013 in Jakarta, headquarters of the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives. Australia is proud to be ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner and a Comprehensive Strategic Partner of ASEAN. Australia’s Ambassador to ASEAN is H.E. Ms Tiffany McDonald.
About Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. It supports the German Government and many other public and private clients in achieving their goals in international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. Together with its partners, GIZ has been creating effective solutions that offer better prospects and improvements of living conditions for more than 50 years.
The ASEAN Think Tank Summit is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by GIZ through the Germany–ASEAN cooperation project “Capacity Building for the ASEAN Secretariat.” For more information, visit www.giz.de.
About the Embassy of Switzerland to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN
The Embassy of Switzerland in Jakarta was opened in 1952. It covers the relations with Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN, with which Switzerland has had sectoral dialogue partner status since July 2016. In this role, Switzerland helps to reduce development gaps between ASEAN countries and supports ASEAN’s efforts in the thematic focus areas of, among others, peace and security, human rights, climate and environment, disaster management, skills development and labour migration.
About the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)
Formed in 1988, the ASEAN-ISIS network is an association of think tanks registered with ASEAN.
About the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)
Insights • Networks • Access
Established in 1962, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) is a not-for-profit and independent think tank committed to producing policy analysis, fostering in-depth dialogues and bridging gaps between policymakers, private sector decision makers and experts to shape public policy and social responses. Centred around ASEAN-focused themes, SIIA aims to deliver policy analysis in international affairs and on issues driving environmental sustainability. As a founding member of the ASEAN-ISIS (ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies) network since 1988, we engage in “Track-Two” diplomacy, fostering dialogue among stakeholders in our region and beyond. For more information, visit www.siiaonline.org.
Media Contacts
ASEAN Secretariat: media@asean.org
Singapore Institute of International Affairs: media@siiaonline.org
For more information on the outcomes of the ATTS, please contact michelle.lim@siiaonline.org.
