Regional bloc to discuss Myanmar’s conflict, humanitarian crisis and future engagement as Naypyidaw pushes back against ASEAN’s peace plan.
MANILA: Southeast Asian foreign ministers will hold their first in-person meeting with Myanmar’s top diplomat since the 2021 military coup, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) seeks to address the country’s prolonged civil war and reassess its engagement with the bloc.
The informal meeting, scheduled for Sunday in Bangkok under the chairmanship of the Philippines, marks the first direct ministerial-level engagement between ASEAN and Myanmar in five years after the country’s military leadership was barred from attending high-level ASEAN summits following the coup.
Why is ASEAN meeting Myanmar now?
The Philippine Foreign Ministry said the meeting aims to provide Myanmar’s foreign minister with an opportunity to brief regional counterparts on the political and security situation while allowing ASEAN members to discuss possible steps toward ending the conflict.
Foreign ministers are expected to exchange views on reducing violence, promoting constructive dialogue among all parties and expanding humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflict.
Manila stressed that Myanmar remains an integral member of ASEAN despite years of diplomatic isolation.
What led to Myanmar’s isolation?
Myanmar has remained largely sidelined within ASEAN since the military seized power in February 2021, overthrowing the elected government and triggering nationwide protests that evolved into a full-scale civil war.
The conflict has reportedly claimed an estimated 100,000 lives and displaced millions, while the military has faced widespread allegations of atrocities. Myanmar’s military has denied those accusations.
Earlier this year, Myanmar installed a nominally civilian government following national elections, with former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing assuming the presidency.
Why is ASEAN’s peace plan under pressure?
Myanmar’s reintegration into ASEAN remains uncertain as the country’s military-aligned parliament has formally challenged the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus, the peace roadmap agreed upon shortly after the 2021 coup.
The consensus calls for an immediate cessation of violence, inclusive dialogue among all parties, humanitarian assistance and the appointment of a special ASEAN envoy.
According to Myanmar’s state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, lawmakers have passed a resolution urging the government to review and oppose ASEAN’s position, arguing that the peace plan interferes in Myanmar’s internal affairs and violates the bloc’s long-standing principle of non-interference.
What does the meeting mean for ASEAN?
Sunday’s talks are expected to test ASEAN’s efforts to re-engage Myanmar without abandoning its demands for meaningful progress on peace and political reconciliation.
The outcome could shape the bloc’s future approach toward one of Southeast Asia’s most complex security crises while determining whether Myanmar can gradually restore its role within the regional organisation.