ASEAN Summit 2026 Opens in Manila With PM Modi and Trump Due for Separate Talks

Southeast Asian leaders and their international partners gathered in Manila on Sunday for the 49th ASEAN Summit, three days of talks expected to focus on trade, regional security and how the bloc responds to crises. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was scheduled to welcome delegates and open the leaders’ meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The summit closes the Philippines’ year as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due in Manila on Monday for the ASEAN–India and East Asia summits, while US President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend a separate ASEAN–US meeting on Tuesday.

Canada sets a trade target as Australia focuses on defence

Diplomacy began before the summit formally opened. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived on Friday and met Marcos. The two leaders witnessed the formalisation of agreements covering livestock, agriculture and the enforcement of competition laws, the Philippine News Agency reported.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived on Saturday and joined Marcos for the endorsement of a framework that commits the two countries to pursuing a free trade agreement by 2027. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also arrived on Saturday as Manila and Canberra looked to deepen their defence ties.

Other Saturday arrivals included Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hang Chuon Naron, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Lao Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the prime ministers of Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore also arrived, along with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Myanmar Foreign Minister Han Win Aung had arrived on Thursday.

Modi to attend two summits during three-day visit

Modi will visit the Philippines from November 16 to 18, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said. He is scheduled to attend the 23rd ASEAN–India Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit. His programme also includes a dinner hosted by Marcos for visiting leaders and bilateral meetings on the sidelines.

Ministry spokesperson Rudrendra Tandon said India’s engagement with ASEAN is a key part of its Act East Policy, alongside its bilateral ties with all 11 member states. The grouping comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon are also due on Monday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, the day Trump is due to attend the ASEAN–US Special Summit.

The Philippines closes a turbulent year as ASEAN chair

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro opened Saturday’s meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers by pointing to the pressures the bloc faced during Manila’s chairship. “The year brought unprecedented headwinds, particularly the crisis in the Middle East, the natural calamities that besiege our nations, and uncertainties that tested the norms of multilateralism,” she said.

The Philippine foreign ministry had confirmed bilateral meetings for Marcos with leaders from Australia, Brazil, Japan and South Korea. Meetings involving India, Laos and Guterres were still being finalised. After the Manila summit, Marcos is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China on November 18 and 19.

With inputs from ANI