Marcos opens 49th ASEAN Summit, reveals near delay

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr opened the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila on Sunday and revealed that ASEAN's previous meeting in Cebu in May had nearly been postponed. According to Marcos, the conflict in the Middle East at the time put ASEAN nationals at risk and disrupted connectivity, energy supplies and food supplies. After consultations and consensus, the leaders still held the summit and chose to formulate a joint response. In his speech at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, Marcos also called for regional unity amid geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate change and cross-border threats. The Philippines will host the 49th ASEAN Summit on November 15-17, 2026.