ASEAN Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Regional Unity Ahead of ASEAN Summit

Manila (ANTARA) - ASEAN foreign ministers gathered in Cebu, Philippines, on Thursday for a high-level meeting to discuss urgent regional priorities and the long-term development of the bloc’s community. According to an official press release on Thursday, the ministers from ASEAN member states reviewed the latest progress in ASEAN community building, including preparations for commemorative activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), scheduled for July 2026, as well as the ongoing integration process of Timor-Leste following its official acceptance as a member of the bloc. The meeting reaffirmed ASEAN’s role as a united, resilient, and forward-looking community amid rising global uncertainties, including the intensifying crisis in the Middle East and its cascading impacts across Southeast Asia.