The AMIC initiative was proposed by Vietnam at the 17th ASEAN Heads of Military/Defense Intelligence Meeting (AMIM-17) in September 2020. This is not only an idea for cooperation in military/defense intelligence, but also a symbol of solidarity and determination to protect peace among ASEAN countries. This idea is strongly supported by most ASEAN member countries.
On October 31, the first ASEAN Military /Defense Intelligence Community Leaders' Meeting (AMICLC-1) was held in Hanoi under the chairmanship of Lieutenant General Tran Cong Chinh, Political Commissar of the General Department of Defense Intelligence. The meeting unanimously approved important documents, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Terms of Reference (TORs) to operate the ASEAN Military/Defense Intelligence Community (AMIC); organized the AMIC Launch Ceremony to officially put AMIC into operation. The meeting also outlined directions for implementing cooperation activities within the AMIC framework in the coming time.

Lieutenant General Tran Cong Chinh, Political Commissar of the General Department of Defense Intelligence, chaired AMICLC-1. Photo: Internet.
The ASEAN Military Intelligence Community (AMIC) initiative, proposed by Vietnam at the 17th ASEAN Military Intelligence/Defense Chiefs' Meeting (AMIM-17) in September 2020, is of great significance in enhancing security and defense cooperation in the Southeast Asian region. This initiative demonstrates Vietnam's active and proactive role in building an effective and close cooperation mechanism between military intelligence agencies of ASEAN countries, in order to deal with increasingly complex security challenges. AMIC creates a platform for ASEAN military intelligence agencies to exchange information more quickly, accurately and effectively, thereby enhancing the common response to transnational security risks such as terrorism, cybercrime, smuggling, and other non-traditional threats. AMIC helps to strengthen strategic trust among ASEAN member states and enhance coordination in ensuring regional security, especially in the context of emerging issues such as territorial disputes, security in the East Sea, and other geopolitical challenges. The establishment of a common intelligence community helps ASEAN countries improve their military intelligence capabilities, through sharing experiences, organizing joint training and exercises, and applying modern technology in the field of intelligence. This initiative emphasizes the principle of consensus and ASEAN's central role in resolving regional issues, avoiding interference from outside parties and weakening the bloc's solidarity. In the context of increasing non-traditional challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and energy security, AMIC helps ASEAN member states coordinate to ensure more comprehensive security, both in the military and civilian fields. The AMIC initiative is not only an important step forward in regional military intelligence cooperation but also demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to contributing to peace, stability, and development of ASEAN. This is a strategic effort to build ASEAN into a sustainable security community, with member states united and closely cooperating to respond to common challenges. 
Heads of ASEAN delegations press the launch button, officially putting AMIC into operation. Photo: Internet.
Through consultation and advocacy efforts at staff officer meetings, bilateral dialogues and AMIM sessions, Vietnam and ASEAN countries reached consensus on the AMIC Concept Document. In June 2023, ASEAN countries officially adopted the AMIC Concept Document at AMIM-20 and acknowledged it in the Joint Statement of the 20th ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Meeting (ACDFM-20). The official operation of AMIC is a major step forward in ASEAN military/defense intelligence cooperation in a more comprehensive, effective and substantive direction, helping to improve capacity and ability to respond together promptly to all traditional and non-traditional risks, contributing to building an environment of peace, stability, cooperation, prosperous development as well as promoting a cohesive and proactively adaptive ASEAN Community./. Kim Oanh
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