An ASEAN perspective on defence and security relations between New Zealand and ASEAN was presented by Dr Zakaria who elaborated on the character of strategic relations between the two actors and the form this relationship could take in the future.

Dr Zakaria opened his analysis by pointing at the changed context of the post-Cold war period. While New Zealand has moved away from its dependence on U.S.-led alliances to espousing independent initiatives on its security, Southeast Asia has changed in substantial measure from being a theatre of inter-state tension and conflict to a region of growth seeking peaceful evolution in international politics. Dr Zakaria expressed this change by quoting Thomas Freidman's theory, the “world is flat”.

Dr Zakaria went on to describe the Southeast Asian perception of New Zealand in defence and strategic terms. Identifying it as a “small power with limited capacity and modest objectives” Dr Zakaria pointed out that New Zealand's defence reach is limited with regard to Southeast Asia. However, New Zealand derives its strength from being perceived as a country that is “benign and non-threatening”, that possesses significant human resource capacity and which has a government that is committed to Southeast Asia.

Despite its limitations in being a major defence actor, New Zealand has played a significant role through the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA). Dr Zakaria stated here that ASEAN itself is a complex and diverse organization which can be understood in terms of three tiers: the original five members and Brunei, “Indochina” (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) and Myanmar. Among these states, New Zealand is particularly important for Singapore and Malaysia as all three are members of the FPDA.

He went on to comment that the FPDA is still “intact and functional”, and that it has gone beyond its original objectives. Dr Zakaria noted that within the FPDA, New Zealand has been efficacious as a small power and its military ties with Malaysia and Singapore have been complemented by inter-state cooperation, training of military personnel and exercises.