G-20, APEC summit and ASEAN meeting: in the next two weeks the region will host three major summits of heads of state and government, not only from that area. Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia will be the host countries. The central themes are the conflicts in Ukraine and Myanmar.
Bangkok () – Southeast Asia will host three top-level events over the next two weeks. The most important will undoubtedly be the G-20 in Bali (November 15-16), which will inevitably focus on the Ukraine crisis, although it will not be the only topic. However, the meeting, which will take place in Indonesia, will be preceded and followed by two other important events.
The first, on November 11, is the 40th summit of the heads of state and government of the 10 member countries of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, preceded by the preparatory days. The venue is the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, and marks the end of the current Cambodian presidency, which will pass on the difficult legacy to Indonesia.
Especially due to Myanmar, a member country of the Association but controlled by a military junta that since February 1, 2021 has plunged it into civil war. So far, ASEAN has basically upheld the principle of non-interference in the affairs of member states, but it must respond to internal and external pressures for more incisive measures. The five-point plan that was drawn up last year to allow the cessation of hostilities and resolve the struggle between the military and the resistance has obviously failed.
The more direct adherence of some members to the Chinese sphere of influence, including Myanmar, and the presence in the organization of other non-democratic regimes, make it difficult to specify a clear condemnation of the Burmese military regime at the political level. Cambodia itself has been under the de facto dictatorship of Prime Minister Hun Sen for 30 years.
It is difficult for ASEAN to offer a concrete answer. Although it has closed its doors to the participation of the regime’s leader, Min Aung Hlain, the regional organization has continued to receive “non-political” interlocutors appointed by the board in various meetings.
The post-pandemic crisis, the climate crisis and the conflict in Ukraine will instead be the main topics at the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit to be held in Bangkok on November 18 and 19. The international organization, currently chaired by Thailand, has a basically economic focus. It brings together 21 countries, almost three billion inhabitants and 42 billion dollars of GDP. Therefore, the main need will be to identify how to return the region to adequate levels of wealth and development.
However, the coexistence of different positions on democracy and rights could close the event in the same way that the meeting of trade ministers ended in May, when the participants were unable to agree on the final document due to discrepancies. regarding the aggression of Russia (another member state) against Ukraine.
