Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Southeast Asian foreign ministers they must stick together as the world falls apart around them. He spoke at the big ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur where 1,500 diplomats gathered to talk about regional problems. Anwar warned that old rules are breaking down while new dangers pop up everywhere. He said ASEAN countries need to stay united and keep talking to each other even when times get tough. The prime minister wants the regional group to remain the main place where countries come to solve their problems.
Anwar painted a grim picture of wars raging across the globe from Gaza to Ukraine to parts of Africa. He expressed worry about the violence in Myanmar where peace seems impossible to achieve. The Malaysian leader said one Middle Eastern country threatens to start a bigger war that could hurt energy supplies worldwide. He warned that international law means nothing if countries only follow rules when they feel like it. Anwar reminded the foreign ministers that ASEAN was built on trust between nations with messy histories.
The prime minister pushed hard for Timor-Leste to become a full ASEAN member by October. Malaysia chairs ASEAN for 2025 under the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability. The four-day meeting includes 24 separate discussions with partner countries from around the world.
Anwar painted a grim picture of wars raging across the globe from Gaza to Ukraine to parts of Africa. He expressed worry about the violence in Myanmar where peace seems impossible to achieve. The Malaysian leader said one Middle Eastern country threatens to start a bigger war that could hurt energy supplies worldwide. He warned that international law means nothing if countries only follow rules when they feel like it. Anwar reminded the foreign ministers that ASEAN was built on trust between nations with messy histories.
The prime minister pushed hard for Timor-Leste to become a full ASEAN member by October. Malaysia chairs ASEAN for 2025 under the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability. The four-day meeting includes 24 separate discussions with partner countries from around the world.
