Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) opened their annual meeting in Manila on Tuesday with a call for greater unity and coordinated action as the region confronts mounting geopolitical tensions, maritime disputes and persistent conflicts.
Opening the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro urged member states to respond with "active, deliberate problem solving" in a world increasingly shaped by "upheaval, uncertainty and unpredictability."
"There is a profound urgency to our work," Lazaro said, calling on ASEAN members to pursue "creative solutions and viable pathways" through complex regional and global challenges.
ASEAN seeks stronger collective voice
Invoking the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN chairmanship theme, Navigating Our Future, Together, Lazaro said the bloc must remain united in shaping its future rather than reacting to external pressures.
"In a fractured global landscape, no single nation can weather these storms alone. Our strength and resilience lie in our community," she said, warning that failure to act together could weaken ASEAN's cohesion.
She also highlighted the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, describing it as the bloc's "most reliable anchor" for preserving regional peace through respect for sovereignty, non-interference and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Security challenges dominate agenda
Regional security is expected to top the agenda throughout the week-long meetings, including efforts to revive ASEAN's stalled peace initiative in Myanmar and accelerate negotiations with China on a long-awaited South China Sea code of conduct.
Ministers will also assess the economic impact of conflicts beyond Southeast Asia, particularly disruptions affecting global energy supplies and trade routes.
The Manila meetings will conclude with discussions involving ASEAN's key dialogue partners, including the United States, China, Russia, Japan, India and the European Union, ahead of the ASEAN Summit in November.
