ASEAN Summit: Old Habits, New Challenges
Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of the Asia Centre, offered TNS News a candid assessment of the summit’s outcomes — particularly ASEAN’s handling of the Myanmar crisis and its outdated diplomatic architecture.
In an article by TNS News, Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah asserts that despite lofty declarations, Dr. James Gomez warns ASEAN’s rigid structure and weak Myanmar stance threaten its future relevance.
The 46th ASEAN Summit delivered visionary declarations and strategic summits — but fell short on concrete progress where it arguably matters most: Myanmar, unity, and institutional agility.
Dr. James Gomez’s insights reflect a broader concern in regional policy circles: Without meaningful reform, ASEAN’s influence may diminish just as the region becomes a strategic fulcrum in global affairs.
As Malaysia continues its 2025 chairmanship, the summit serves as both a diplomatic milestone and a warning: to remain relevant, ASEAN must evolve — or risk being sidelined by the very forces it seeks to manage.
The recently concluded 46th ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur from May 26 to 27 under Malaysia’s chairmanship, was themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” The summit aimed to serve as a platform for addressing pressing regional challenges and deepening ties with external partners. Among its notable features were the second ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural ASEAN–GCC–China Summit, underscoring ASEAN’s growing efforts to diversify its diplomatic and economic engagements amid intensifying geopolitical competition.
