Foreign Ministers

• ASEAN foreign ministers are meeting in Manila to address critical regional challenges, including food and energy security, the Myanmar crisis, and tensions in the South China Sea. • To ensure energy stability, governments are urged to modernize electricity grids, invest in battery storage, and strengthen cross-border transmission infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. • Officials warned that food security is becoming an increasingly urgent concern as climate change triggers more frequent droughts, floods, and extreme weather across Southeast Asia.

• ASEAN foreign ministers held an informal "icebreaker" meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, with Tin Maung Swe, the foreign minister of Myanmar’s military-backed civilian government. • During the discussions, the Southeast Asian bloc reaffirmed its commitment to the Five-Point Consensus initiative, a diplomatic framework aimed at ending violence and restoring peace. • The meeting follows a recent rejection of the Five-Point Consensus by Myanmar’s military-dominated parliament, highlighting the ongoing tension between the junta and regional diplomats.

• Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (Mudavadi) has arrived in Seoul to participate in a summit featuring foreign ministers from 54 African states and four regional organizations. • The meeting focuses on strengthening ties, highlighting South Korea's significant Official Development Assistance (ODA) and increasing investments in Kenya's manufacturing, industry, and infrastructure sectors. • Economic cooperation is expected to accelerate following the recent establishment of Korea Exim Bank offices in Nairobi to facilitate financing.

The military alliance’s chief tried to manage expectations after Donald Trump said he would deploy 5,000 troops to PolandPoland’s Radosław Sikorski showed up beaming after last night’s US announcement on the deployment of 5,000 US troops to Poland.He thanks Trump for the decision, saying it means the presence of US troops in Poland “will be maintained more or less at previous levels,” after the Pentagon halted a planned rotation of 4,000 troops. Continue reading...

• Foreign ministers from the Council of Europe have adopted a political declaration concerning the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and migration. • The consensus text integrates diverse national perspectives with established Strasbourg case-law to address the complexities of migration within the legal framework. • This move reinforces the ECHR's central role in protecting human rights, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring democratic security and peace across Europe.

• Iranian and Egyptian foreign ministers held a phone call on Sunday, May 10, 2026, to address latest regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington mediated by Pakistan. • The discussions occur amid heightened uncertainty in ceasefire diplomacy following US President Donald Trump's rejection of Iran’s latest response to a US proposal as “totally unacceptable.” • This outreach signals Egypt's potential role in bridging divides between Iran and the US, amid escalating Middle East tensions involving Pakistan as a key intermediary.

A part suspension was tabled by Ireland, Spain and Slovenia but did not receive enough backing from other member statesThe EU remains split on imposing sanctions on Israel, despite some member states criticising the country over the plight of Gaza and violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, said proposals for a part suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement remained on the table but required states to shift their positions to come into force. Speaking after a meeting between EU foreign ministers on Tuesday, she told reporters: “We didn’t see that today, but these discussions will continue.” Continue reading...

Representatives from EU countries are meeting in Luxembourg todayJust as expected.Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares has just confirmed that Spain, Slovenia and Ireland have requested a discussion on suspending the EU’s association treaty with Israel at today’s meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.“European Union has to say today very clearly to Israel that that change is needed. That’s not the right path, and that while Israel continues in that path of a permanent perpetual war, we will not be able to [run our relations] in the same way.” Continue reading...