ASEAN Summit in Manila to Address Regional Conflicts and U.S. Participation

The 49th ASEAN summit is scheduled to take place in Manila, Philippines, starting November 15, 2026. The three-day event will involve leaders from ASEAN member states and various partners from Asia and the West. As the current rotating chairman of ASEAN, the Philippines will host the discussions. Preparatory meetings were held by ASEAN foreign ministers in Manila on November 14, 2026, to prepare for the summit.

High-Level Diplomatic Engagements

The summit agenda includes significant diplomatic meetings. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to meet with ASEAN leaders on November 16, 2026, before his departure. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to arrive in Manila on November 17, 2026, accompanied by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While some reports suggest an afternoon arrival, others indicate a later arrival on the 17th.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to participate in a special summit with ASEAN leaders and a meeting for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue on the night of November 17, 2026. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue consists of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. Additionally, President Donald Trump is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on November 18, 2026. One report suggests the President's plane may land in the Philippines 15 minutes before the summit concludes on November 17, 2026.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba is scheduled to arrive in Manila on November 16, 2026, to attend a meeting on November 17, 2026. Following these meetings, Prime Minister Ishiba is scheduled to depart for Shenzhen, China, on November 18, 2026, to attend the APEC summit.

Regional Security and Economic Initiatives

The summit will address several critical regional and international issues, including the South China Sea, Myanmar, the Middle East, and Ukraine. ASEAN and China are currently negotiating a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. Regarding the conflict in Myanmar, Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro urged Myanmar to fully implement the 5-point consensus to end conflict and promote peace.

Economic and technological cooperation is also a central theme. President Donald Trump is expected to urge Southeast Asian nations to join the Pax Silica AI supply chain initiative and the AI Spark program. The Pax Silica initiative was launched in December 2025 by the U.S. Department of State and includes 26 member countries, such as South Korea, Israel, Qatar, Finland, and the United Kingdom. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on China. In response, China has established the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization with Russia to counter Pax Silica. AI Spark is a program under Pax Silica that provides funding and technical support to countries adopting U.S. AI systems.

Summit Conclusion

The summit will conclude with Singapore taking over the ASEAN chairmanship from the Philippines.

Glossary

• ASEAN — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an intergovernmental forum of all 11 states in Southeast Asia. It primarily focuses on Southeast Asian economic development, peaceful coexistence and adherence to international norms.
• South China Sea — The South China Sea is a region where various countries have overlapping claims to land, islands, and resources. It is a subject of diplomatic discussions regarding the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties.
• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue — The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, also known as the Quad, is a multilateral security dialogue. It consists of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India.
• Shenzhen — Shenzhen is one of the world's top ten most competitive financial centers. It also hosts one of the world's ten largest stock exchanges by market capitalization and trade volume.