ASEAN Faces Pressure to Reconsider Myanmar’s Exclusion

News Desk

MANILA: ASEAN leaders are under mounting pressure to reconsider their five-year ban on Myanmar’s military-backed leaders attending high-level meetings as they prepare for a summit from November 15 to 16.

This comes as Thailand and several other member states have intensified their engagement with Myanmar, despite the ongoing civil war that has claimed over 100,000 lives since the military coup in 2021.

The political turmoil in Myanmar began when then-military chief Min Aung Hlaing ousted the democratically elected government, leading to widespread armed conflict. Myanmar’s leadership has been barred from

ASEAN summits and foreign ministers’ meetings due to its failure to adhere to the Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan established in the wake of the coup aimed at restoring peace and stability.

The implications of this potential shift in ASEAN’s stance are significant, as it could alter the dynamics of regional diplomacy and impact the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

Increased engagement with the military regime may be seen as legitimizing its authority, while continued exclusion could further isolate Myanmar and exacerbate the conflict.

As the summit approaches, ASEAN leaders will need to navigate these complex issues carefully. The discussions will likely focus on whether to maintain the current ban or explore avenues for dialogue with Myanmar’s leaders, reflecting the divergent views among member states on how best to address the crisis.