19 global leaders confirm attendance at ASEAN Summit in Manila

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 12, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

MANILA, Philippines –  At least 19 world leaders and heads of international institutions have confirmed their participation in the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Manila, bringing major global figures together for high-level discussions on regional security, economic cooperation and international partnerships.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the attendance on November 11, highlighting the Philippines’ role in bringing Southeast Asian nations and their international partners together to address shared challenges.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will chair the summit, with the main leaders’ meetings taking place from November 15 to 17 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

Among the prominent participants are United States President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

Carney, Lula da Silva and Georgieva will deliver remarks during the summit’s plenary session as guests of the ASEAN chair. Trump will participate in the ASEAN-US Special Summit on November 17.

Leaders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam will join Marcos for discussions on regional priorities.

Myanmar, meanwhile, will be represented by the director-general of its Foreign Ministry’s ASEAN Affairs Department.

The summit will open on November 15 with plenary and retreat sessions, where leaders will review the Philippines’ achievements as ASEAN chair and discuss pressing regional and global concerns, including the situation in Myanmar.

Meetings with ASEAN parliamentarians, business representatives and youth groups will also form part of the program.

Discussions with ASEAN’s dialogue partners will follow from November 16 to 17, involving Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the United Nations and the United States.

Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to the DFA.

The meetings will focus on strengthening regional cooperation, maintaining economic resilience and addressing challenges affecting Southeast Asia and its international partners.

Marcos will also convene the 29th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit on November 17. These meetings will provide additional opportunities for dialogue on political, security and economic issues.

The Philippines will formally hand over the ASEAN chairmanship to Singapore during the closing ceremony, marking the conclusion of its year leading the regional bloc.

The DFA emphasized that the participation of international leaders reflects ASEAN’s continued importance as a platform for diplomatic engagement and collective action.

The Philippines is hosting the summit under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” with a focus on reinforcing regional partnerships and strengthening cooperation amid evolving global challenges.