Showing 1 - 7 of 7
Myanmar's 'my way' vs Asean norms
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 08/07/2025
» It appeared to be a done deal. During their summit on May 26, Asean leaders agreed to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the regional bloc. Since then, Nay Pyi Taw has raised an unexpected objection, with the junta issuing an official statement that could potentially embarrass Asean and its current chair, Malaysia.
Asean sticks to peace agenda in Ukraine
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 21/02/2023
» This week marks the first year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The biggest war in Europe since World War II will continue as nobody knows when, or if ever, Russia or Ukraine will be defeated. Certainly, the US and Europe, or rather Nato are confident that more military hardware support to Kyiv is the only way to bleed Russia dry. Recent rhetoric from the West at the Munich Security Conference last week has already raised the spectre of a long war, perhaps short of a nuclear war. Obviously, that has the potential to drag other European nations into the conflict, which is already a proxy war. Belarus has allowed Russia to use its territory to wedge war against Ukraine. Even if the war ends -- it is a big if -- the dire repercussions will continue for generations.
Upcoming AMM facing uphill tasks
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 26/07/2022
» The Asean Foreign Ministerial Meeting (AMM) next week will be a test of its centrality and relevancy as never seen before. The annual meeting has to confront sensitive new and divisive issues that will require the 55-year-old bloc's collective wisdom, commitment and foresight.
Asean-US to meet amid great challenges
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/04/2022
» After more than six months of negotiations, the US and Asean have finally agreed that their leaders will meet in Washington DC on May 12-13. This kind of tussle could have been avoided had there been better coordination from the US side.
Russia's war and its regional impact
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 29/03/2022
» Last week in Brussels, US President Joe Biden suggested that Russia should be removed from the Group of Twenty, or G20 as it is more commonly known, the economic forum of industrialised and developing countries. He reiterated that with the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war, it could not be business as usual for Russia in international institutions and the international community. Mr Biden's comment sent a shockwave through Asean capitals. During the second and third week of November, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand are hosting different summits with Russia, as a key member, along with China and the US and its allies. These meetings are the G20, East Asia Summit and Apec leaders' meeting. They could be two hubristic weeks of summits.
What might have been at Vegas summit
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 03/03/2020
» The Asean officials preparing for the March 14 special Asean-US Summit were greatly relieved when the White House announced on Friday that the Las Vegas rendezvous would be postponed due to Covid-19 fears. Indeed, with exactly two weeks to go before the event, the Asean side was still wondering what the "deliverable milestones" of their summit were likely to be.
Vietnam's homework before Nha Trang
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 14/01/2020
» The latest development in the Middle East and the status of President Donald Trump's invitation for a special summit with Asean leaders in the US will top the agenda of the first foreign ministers' retreat in Nha Trang this week.