Finland and Cyprus will accede to the 1976 Asean Treaty of Amity and Cooperation at the upcoming Asean-related summits in Kuala Lumpur in late October, according to an informed source.
Finland is the last Scandinavian country to sign the regional code of conduct, which stresses the principles of non-interference, consensus and cooperation. Norway was the first Scandinavian nation to accede to the TAC in 2013, followed by Denmark and the Netherlands in 2022.
Currently, there are 59 signatories.
Both new signatories will continue the trend of additional countries from the four corners of the world linking up with the TAC, which will commemorate its 50th anniversary next year.
The purpose of the Treaty is to promote peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia. These are principles that the TAC enshrines, including mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations.
Furthermore, the TAC a;sp advpcas the settlement of disputes by peaceful means.
