Asean

• De Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) heeft beloofd een nul-tolerantiebenadering aan te nemen tegen de illegale handel in narcotica als onderdeel van bredere inspanningen om een drugsvrije regio in Zuidoost-Azië te creëren. • De toezegging werd aangekondigd tijdens de 48ste ASEAN-top in Cebu, Filipijnen, en weerspiegelt een eensgezind regionaal beleid tegen de handel in en het gebruik van narcotica. • Het drugsvrije initiatief vertegenwoordigt een significante gecoördineerde inspanning tussen ASEAN-lidstaten, waaronder Indonesië, Myanmar, Filipijnen, Singapore, Thailand en Vietnam, om georganiseerde misdaadsyndicaten te bestrijden en middelengebruik te verminderen.

• Southeast Asian leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plan to release a draft declaration on Friday at their annual summit in Cebu, Philippines, upholding international law, sovereignty, and freedom of navigation amid Middle East tensions. • The statement, seen by The Associated Press on Thursday, serves as a veiled rebuke to the United States, Israel, and Iran over the regional war impacting Southeast Asia's energy security, food supply, and migrant workers. • Host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized focusing on protecting over one million Southeast Asian workers and seafarers in the Middle East during the gathering of 10 national leaders plus Myanmar's representative.

• Laos is ramping up regional diplomacy before the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu on May 7-8, with Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane visiting Indonesia for bilateral talks. • Discussions covered trade, investment, tourism, human resource development, and broader ASEAN priorities, including meetings with business groups and the ASEAN Secretariat. • Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone will lead Laos at the summit, focusing on unity amid geopolitical tensions in Southeast Asia.

• Thailand's foreign minister requested ASEAN-level discussions with his Myanmar counterpart to address escalating conflicts and diplomatic standoffs in the region. • The initiative comes in response to recent attacks and instability in Myanmar, prompting broader calls for coordinated ASEAN intervention. • This move highlights Thailand's leadership role in ASEAN diplomacy, aiming to prevent spillover effects on Southeast Asian security and trade.

• Southeast Asia's economic resilience is under pressure from a fragmented global economy, requiring deeper intra-regional integration, according to The Business Times analysis. • Key challenges include trade barriers and supply chain shifts, with ASEAN's intra-regional trade at just 25% of total commerce. • Strategic engagement with partners like the US, China, and EU is essential to mitigate deglobalization risks and sustain growth above 4.5% annually.

The regional bloc agreed to safeguard regional energy security through strengthened cooperation, timely policy responses and engagement with dialogue partners.