Southeast Asian leaders open annual summit with major conflicts and their impact topping the agenda
Summary
Leaders of the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations opened a three-day summit in Manila on Nov. 15, 2026. Their agenda includes global conflicts and their effects on the region, disputes in the South China Sea, Myanmar’s civil war, and economic and security pressures. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to join meetings in Manila after the main summit sessions and meet Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.Key Facts
- The summit opened in Manila on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, and is scheduled to run for three days.
- Draft summit statements call for restraint, peaceful dispute resolution, and respect for international law and the U.N. Charter.
- Leaders are expected to address the South China Sea disputes and the civil war in Myanmar.
- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said regional challenges include geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, new technologies, climate change, and cross-border threats.
- Trump is expected to arrive in Manila with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, after the main ASEAN meetings conclude.
- Trump is scheduled to join meetings involving ASEAN leaders and the Quad, which includes the United States, Japan, Australia, and India.
- Marcos and Trump are expected to meet Wednesday and reaffirm their countries’ treaty alliance.
- Singapore is set to take over ASEAN’s rotating annual leadership from the Philippines.
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