BANGKOK/YANGON (Bloomberg): South-East Asian nations re-engaged with Myanmar’s government after years of limited contact, while reiterating it must comply with the bloc’s five-point peace consensus before ties can be fully normalized.
The informal meeting took place between foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their Myanmar counterpart, Tin Maung Swe, in Bangkok on Sunday. It was the first in-person engagement at that level since the military coup in 2021 ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged the country into conflict.
Asean has insisted in recent years that Myanmar make progress on its Five-Point Consensus - the bloc’s main roadmap for resolving the crisis - before being allowed to participate at the political level.
While Sunday’s meeting raised questions about whether Asean was easing that position, the bloc reaffirmed their stance on the Consensus, calling for an end to violence against civilians, an inclusive political dialogue and expanded humanitarian access, Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said after the meeting.
"The fact that we’re meeting with the Myanmar foreign minister is some kind of a shift,” said Lazaro, who is also Asean’s special envoy to Myanmar. "It is my hope that this informal meeting will serve as an impetus for further engagement between Asean and Myanmar.”
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said his country supported the shift in approach, describing it as "calibrated re-engagement,” while stressing that Asean’s position remained unchanged.
"The engagement that we’re calling for is a strategy to implement the Five-Point Consensus,” Sihasak said, adding that more engagements with other Myanmar stakeholders would follow. "We would like Myanmar back in the Asean family.”
Sihasak said Asean had invited Myanmar to explain its position, but also expected the country’s authorities to address the bloc’s concerns, as well as those of the broader international community.
Myanmar’s foreign minister also briefed counterparts on efforts to combat transnational scam operations along its borders and said Suu Kyi was in good health and being well cared for, according to the two top diplomats from Thailand and the Philippines. Sihasak said they are urging that Lazaro be given access to Suu Kyi to "verify the claims.”
Lazaro, whose request to access Suu Kyi following her transfer to house arrest was previously denied, said she will be visiting Myanmar later this year to expand humanitarian assistance. The Philippines holds the bloc’s rotational chairmanship for 2026.
--With assistance from Andreo Calonzo. -- ©2026 Bloomberg L.P.
