In July 2024, 18 diplomats from the ASEAN Member States and 2 members of the ASEAN Secretariat completed the 17th edition of the Clingendael training programme for ASEAN mid-career diplomats. The overarching theme was regional cooperation, and in the second week, the role of regional cooperation on issues relating to human security was highlighted. 

The curriculum included lectures on topics such as regional integration, geopolitics of technology, energy security, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on challenges and opportunities for ASEAN. In addition, skills sessions were provided on intercultural communication, international negotiation, and multistakeholder analysis and management. 

Participants visited the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss a wide range of matters such as the strategic partnership between the Netherlands and ASEAN, cyber diplomacy and economic security, the EU Global Gateway, and Feminist Foreign Policy. In addition, the participations visited the Port of Rotterdam and Deltares to broaden their knowledge on trade and water management in the Netherlands and in South-East Asia. 

The two-week programme was successful in improving the participants’ knowledge on a wide range of topics related to regional cooperation. The participants were also able to practice and improve their diplomatic skills. This will hopefully contribute to their work on portfolios related to regional cooperation in the ASEAN region.