Positioning the Philippines in a volatile ASEAN region

As 2026 begins, the Philippines finds itself at a critical juncture in its engagement with Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.

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ASEAN remains the country's most immediate diplomatic, economic, and strategic community that offers both opportunity and obligation amid a rapidly changing global environment. In a region marked by geopolitical rivalry, economic uncertainty, and transnational challenges, the Philippines must approach ASEAN not merely as a forum for dialogue, but as a platform for purposeful national positioning.

ASEAN's strength has long rested on its ability to maintain relative stability through consensus, cooperation, and noninterference. Yet the pressures confronting the region today are far more complex than in previous decades. Strategic competition among major powers, tensions in the South China Sea, supply chain disruptions, climate vulnerabilities, and digital transformation are testing ASEAN's cohesion and relevance. For member states like the Philippines, these realities demand a clearer articulation of national interests within the ASEAN framework.