Last week witnessed a momentous occasion in Jakarta, Indonesia, as top diplomats from across the globe gathered for the 56th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting. This high-level meeting centered on addressing pressing security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region. Distinguished foreign ministers from influential nations such as India, China, the United States, South Korea, Australia, and even North Korea participated in the discussions.
The core focus of the talks revolved around several critical issues affecting the region. Among them were North Korea's ballistic missile launches in the South China Sea, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the exacerbating food and energy crises, and the complex situation in Myanmar.
It is important to understand that ASEAN is a significant regional grouping aimed at fostering economic and security cooperation among its ten member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Together, these nations boast a combined GDP of 3.2 trillion dollars and are home to 662 million people.
Despite its economic and demographic clout, ASEAN's effectiveness has faced scrutiny over the years, prompting questions about its credibility as a unified bloc. The recent meetings in Jakarta came amidst growing doubts about the grouping's ability to effectively address challenges, particularly the crisis in Myanmar.
In this episode, our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan delve into the relevance of ASEAN on the global stage today, exploring why its credibility has come under question.
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh
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