ASEAN Summit Opens in Manila to Address Global Conflicts and Regional Disputes

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit commenced on Sunday, November 15, 2026, in Manila, Philippines. The three-day summit is being held at a heavily guarded convention center located in Manila Bay. Leaders from the 11-member bloc are meeting to discuss various regional and global conflicts.

Agenda for regional stability

The summit agenda includes calls for peaceful resolutions regarding several major geopolitical issues. These include the South China Sea disputes and the civil war in Myanmar. Additionally, leaders will address ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. The Philippines currently holds the rotating leadership of the 11-member ASEAN bloc this year.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that the commitment to unity is increasingly important due to geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, new technologies, climate change, and transnational threats. Draft post-summit communiques indicate that leaders intend to reaffirm their commitment to international law and the United Nations Charter. These draft statements suggest a collective effort to uphold established global standards.

Scheduled diplomatic meetings

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to meet ASEAN leaders on Monday, November 16, 2026, before his departure. High-level diplomatic activity will continue into Tuesday, November 17, 2026, when U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to arrive in Manila in the afternoon.

President Donald Trump is expected to attend three meetings on Tuesday night. These meetings include a special summit with ASEAN leaders and a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a group that includes the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. During the same afternoon, the Philippines will transfer the ASEAN annual leadership to Singapore.

Institutional context and structure

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional bloc consisting of 11 democratic and authoritarian states. The organization operates under a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of its member states. The bloc was founded in 1967.

The current summit takes place amidst significant geopolitical shifts. While the summit focuses on regional stability, the involvement of major global powers like the United States and China highlights the importance of the ASEAN region in international diplomacy. The presence of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue members underscores the complexity of the security environment in the region.

Glossary

• Association of Southeast Asian Nations — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional bloc consisting of 11 democratic and authoritarian states. The organization operates under a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of its member states.
• Myanmar — Myanmar is a country that switched to RHT in 1970. Much of its infrastructure remains geared to LHT like its neighbors.
• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue — The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a group that includes the United States, Japan, Australia, and India.