Laos prepares to accept Asean chair against backdrop of Myanmar crisis

Indonesian President Joko Widodo hands the Asean Chairmanship gavel to Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone during the 43rd Asean Summit in Jakarta on September 7. - Photo courtesy of Asean Secretariat

VIENTIANE (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): In just a month, Laos is set to succeed Indonesia as the Asean chair for 2024, taking the helm amid ongoing challenges. Foremost among these is the unresolved crisis in Myanmar, a persistent internal issue for the bloc.

Despite efforts by previous chairs like Brunei in 2021, Cambodia in 2022, and Indonesia in 2023, analysts remain skeptical about Laos’ ability to effectively address the situation, which has been ongoing since the 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government.