As the global environment becomes more contested and the scope for international consensus narrows, ASEAN’s convening power is perhaps more important than ever, says a Lowy Institute director.
A police officer walks along flags of nations participating in the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the national convention center in Vientiane, Laos , Jul 24, 2024. SYDNEY: Over the next few days, one of Southeast Asia’s smallest countries, Laos , will play host to its neighbours for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. It will also welcome the region’s great powers, including the United States, China and Japan, for the adjoining annual East Asia Summit.
Even the possible election of Vice President Harris would bring uncertainty, because her level of interest in and commitment to showing up in Southeast Asia is unknown, despite her regular travel to the region as a surrogate for President Biden. The Summit, which comes ahead of this year’s APEC and G20 meetings in Peru and Brazil, will also be the first for several new leaders.Wong is competent and echoes much of Lee’s foreign policy rhetoric, but Lee’s departure is a loss to the grouping, which in 2024 is largely led by less seasoned politicians, a majority of whom are in place due to dynastic political successions rather than merit-based election or selection.
Laos has already survived the toughest test on these sensitive issues, which is agreeing a jointly negotiated communique issued after the July meeting of foreign ministers. While the East Asia Summit is still likely to issue at least one jointly negotiated statement in 2024, it is a reflection of global political polarisation that ASEAN’s dialogue partners are no longer able to propose their own duelling statements to advance their preferred language on international issues.
Anwar has already invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 2025 ASEAN summits, which could provide an opportunity for Moscow to secure a diplomatic win such as achieving comprehensive strategic partner status, which Australia, China, the United States and Japan already enjoy .
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