Putrajaya, Malaysia – Southeast Asian leaders are convening for a critical two-day summit next week, with a packed agenda addressing some of the region’s most pressing challenges. Malaysian prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the discussions will center on the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, the complex maritime disputes in the South china Sea, and the impact of U.S. tariff hikes on Asean economies.

Key Meetings and Engagements

• Asean Summit: Malaysia, as the current chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian nations, will host the summit on Monday.
• Dialog with china: Following the Asean meeting, a summit is scheduled for Tuesday with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) engagement: Leaders from the Gulf cooperation Council, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United arab Emirates, will also participate in Tuesday’s summit.

Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the growing interest of the GCC in strengthening ties with China, stating, The GCC already has strong links with the U.S. and wants to be close to China too. He further emphasized the potential benefits of this collaboration, adding, We want to have that synergy to enhance trade investments, more effective collaboration.

Economic Resilience and Trade Negotiations

Asean countries, heavily reliant on exports to the U.S., have felt the sting of U.S.tariffs, which range from 10% to 49%. The situation prompted swift action after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on these tariffs.Nations like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam promptly initiated trade negotiations with washington.

Anwar Ibrahim indicated that the U.S. has pledged to review Malaysia’s case sympathetically. He also noted Asean’s collective effort to negotiate with the U.S. as a unified bloc. Together,he stressed the importance of building economic resilience by deepening ties with other major partners,including China,India,and the european Union.

Navigating Geopolitical Rivalries

Despite the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and China, Anwar Ibrahim expressed confidence that it would not fracture Asean unity. He affirmed the region’s commitment to engaging with both superpowers. He also downplayed the importance of territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.

Myanmar Crisis and Humanitarian Efforts

Anwar Ibrahim’s engagement with Myanmar includes a meeting with military chief Gen. Ming Aung Hlaing in Bangkok and virtual discussions with the opposition National Unity Government.While these talks primarily focused on humanitarian aid following a devastating earthquake in March, which claimed over 3,700 lives, anwar expressed hope that they could contribute to advancing a broader peace process.

Critics of the military government assert that humanitarian aid is restricted in areas outside the army’s control and accuse the military of violating its self-declared ceasefire through numerous airstrikes.