The Philippines has hosted a series of high-level meetings aimed at reinforcing regional security, unity and international collaboration.
Serving as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026, the Philippines gathered senior diplomats to sustain institutional momentum and prepare for upcoming summits amidst a shifting geopolitical landscape.
Advancing collective regional momentum
On June 8, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim convened the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) stated that this assembly marked the fourth time senior diplomats have gathered under the Philippine chairship, focusing on consolidating progress achieved during the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu.
Undersecretary Herrera-Lim urged delegates to capitalise on their shared achievements, highlighting that the bloc has charted a steady course across its core pillars.
Discussions focused heavily on regional security, including potential co-operation under the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, reflecting a unified commitment to non-proliferation.
Additionally, officials evaluated accessions to the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia (TAC) ahead of its historic 50th anniversary commemorative activities in July 2026.
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Strengthening dialogue with external partners
The diplomatic meet in Pasay expanded to include critical dialogue partners through the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Senior Officials’ Meeting held on June 9.
The ASEAN Secretariat also stated that senior officials from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea gathered alongside the Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Political-Security Community.
Delegates reviewed the current execution of the APT Co-operation Work Plan (2023-2027) and mapped out future strategies for multilateral engagement.
This meeting served as a crucial stepping stone to finalise administrative and policy arrangements for the 27th APT Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for July 2026, as well as the 29th APT Summit set to take place in November 2026.
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Enhancing regional security frameworks
Parallel to the APT dialogues, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Senior Officials’ Meeting also convened on June 9.
According to the ASEAN Secretariat, this specialised session was dedicated to exploring confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy.
Senior officials exchanged views on pressing international issues, ensuring that the ARF framework remains dynamically equipped to handle evolving global security challenges and maintain stability across the Asia-Pacific region.
The members of ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
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