A strategic multilateral dialogue related to biosecurity risks in Southeast Asia, established in 2014, now includes participants from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and the United States. This dialogue is conducted at the nonministerial level, enabling participants to engage without the constraints of operating in their official capacities. Participants reflect on mechanisms to detect, mitigate, and respond to biosecurity risks and highlight biosecurity issues for national leadership. Participants have also identified factors to improve regional and global biosecurity, including improved engagement and collaboration across relevant ministries and agencies, sustainable funding for biosecurity programs, enhanced information sharing for communicable diseases, and increased engagement in international biosecurity forums.
Keywords: Southeast Asia; biological warfare agents; biosecurity; biosurveillance; bioterrorism and preparedness; communicable diseases; containment of biohazards; disease outbreaks; emerging diseases; epidemics; epidemiology; international cooperation; pandemics; policy; public health; strategic multilateral dialogue.