ASEAN’s top diplomats meet in Manila as renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran cast a “long shadow” over the regional agenda. Multiple outlets report that the meeting takes place against a wider backdrop of instability affecting Southeast Asia, including concerns about energy supplies and trade routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. Several sources also describe the gathering as occurring at a time when ASEAN faces other pressing challenges, including maritime tensions involving China in the South China Sea and ongoing efforts to finalize a code of conduct to help prevent disputes from escalating.
Beyond the Middle East, the diplomats are expected to address the search for a regional pathway to end Myanmar’s civil war. Reporting also says the discussions draw attention from major external partners, with high-level participation including U.S., Chinese, and Russian officials. Overall coverage indicates the meeting will likely include deliberations on issuing an ASEAN statement reflecting “grave concern” about the situation in the Middle East, while also reviewing ASEAN’s progress and difficulties on regional security and conflict-management issues.
