Foreign ministers from ASEAN gather in Manila for days of meetings under pressure from two major issues: renewed fighting in the Middle East and disputes over Myanmar’s participation in regional diplomacy. As reported by multiple outlets, the ASEAN ministerial meetings are scheduled to take place in the Philippines and include counterparts and delegations from a range of external partners, including the United States, China, Japan and Russia, along with other countries.
A central focus of the talks is Myanmar, an ASEAN member that has been formally excluded from ASEAN summits since a military junta seized power in 2021 and set off a civil war. Sources agree that the question of whether Myanmar returns to the diplomatic process is a divisive matter among ASEAN members, and that disagreement could increase tensions during the ministerial meetings.
The meetings also take place amid renewed fighting in the Middle East, which adds further uncertainty to the regional agenda. Overall, the reporting indicates that both the Myanmar issue and the broader security situation influence the discussions and the atmosphere around the ASEAN gatherings in Manila.
