ASEAN vows to focus on regional stability
ASEAN foreign ministers met in Manila to discuss regional stability, but the conversation was largely overshadowed by the conflict in the Middle East. The bloc reaffirmed its commitment to the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar while expanding its diplomatic partnerships with Germany, Qatar, and Turkiye.
Why it matters
The meeting highlights ASEAN's struggle to maintain regional focus while navigating the economic and security impacts of global geopolitical crises.
ASEAN foreign ministers wrapped up last week's talks in Manila with fresh pledges to tackle long-running regional flashpoints — from South China Sea tensions to Myanmar's crisis.
But the agenda was eclipsed by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which threatens to squeeze Southeast Asia's energy-dependent economies.
The joint communique from the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting acknowledged that the war has affected ASEAN's "stability in energy, food, and our peoples' well-being".
Peter TC Chang, former deputy director of the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, cited this communique to show how the Middle East crisis has prompted ASEAN to adapt its consensus-driven diplomacy to a rapidly evolving global security environment.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in