Anutin to attend 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu as leaders discuss Middle East fallout, energy and food security
PM Anutin will join the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu on May 7-9, 2026, focusing on Middle East impacts, energy and food security, and regional safety.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also serves as interior minister, is set to use the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines to push for outcomes that translate into tangible benefits for Thai people, government spokesperson Rachada Thanadirek said.
The summit will be held in Cebu from May 7-9, 2026, under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together”, with ASEAN leaders and senior representatives expected to attend.
Rachada said the meeting comes at a time of heightened global volatility, with conflicts in multiple regions and mounting geopolitical, economic and security pressures. ASEAN, she said, faces significant spillover effects, making the summit a key platform for shaping the region’s direction and strengthening cooperation in ways that connect directly to people’s lives.
Leaders and high-level representatives expected to take part include Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia, President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr of the Philippines, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão of Timor-Leste, and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung of Vietnam.
Also expected are ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, representatives from Myanmar, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a guest of the chair, Rachada said.
A core agenda item will be how ASEAN should respond to the fallout from the situation in the Middle East, including energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN citizens. The summit will also discuss broader cooperation to help the bloc adapt to fast-changing global conditions and strengthen ASEAN’s role internationally.
Rachada said Thailand is ready to elevate its role as a bridge for cooperation, focusing on priority issues such as energy stability, sustainable access to food, and regional public safety. Anutin is also expected to hold talks in both multilateral and bilateral formats, using a balanced diplomatic approach aimed at producing practical outcomes across economic, security and cross-border challenges.
