Trade war in focus at Asean summit ahead of Trump arrival

Regional leaders met in Manila for a summit aimed at addressing various challenges, including the Middle East crisis and internal regional issues. US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the summit to meet with leaders from India, Japan, and Australia was a major topic of discussion. Trump's trade war, particularly the tariffs imposed on other countries, was a primary concern for Brazil's new President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Lula expressed gratitude to his country for finding new partners and increasing trade with regional states like Indonesia and Vietnam. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also emphasized diversifying partnerships to reduce reliance on the US, mentioning the completion of Asean trade talks and a new Philippine free-trade deal. Hundreds of police officers were deployed in Manila to maintain security during the summit, with anti-Trump protesters clashing with authorities, blocking an attempted march towards the venue.

Other key issues include the South China Sea dispute, the struggling South China Sea "Code of Conduct," and Asean's relationship with Myanmar, which has been excluded from high-level meetings since a military coup in 2021. Myanmar's foreign minister faces an international ruling on potential genocide against Rohingya Muslims, adding to the complexity of regional relations.