Foreign ministers from the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and major partners gathered in Manila on Tuesday on July 21 against a backdrop of instability beyond the region since the US and Iran resumed open conflict, raising concerns about energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as inflation and global growth.
“We live in a time defined by what I call the three ‘U's’: upheaval, uncertainty and unpredictability. As developments around the world continue to strain global peace, security and stability, it is highly fitting to recall our theme for this year: Navigating our future together,” Philippine foreign minister Maria Theresa Lazaro said during the opening ceremony.
Southeast Asia's top diplomats will also have an informal consultation on Myanmar's conflict, as ASEAN's peace initiative struggles to gain traction, five years after it was launched following a military coup that plunged the country into a civil war that has killed an estimated 100,000 people.
Likely to be discussed also are tensions in the South China Sea, for which ASEAN and China are after nearly 10 years still trying to conclude a code of conduct to prevent disputes from escalating.
