PH ready to lead ASEAN in 2026 – Marcos

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines is ready to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, emphasizing that the country is prepared both logistically and diplomatically to lead the regional bloc’s summits.

Speaking to reporters at a media briefing following the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Marcos said the Philippines has been laying the groundwork for its chairmanship as early as this year.

“When you are the Chair of ASEAN, you lead. And that is what we are ready to do because we have a very, very good idea of what the elements are that we feel need to be part of the discussions of ASEAN during our Chairship,” he said.

The president said preparations have focused not only on hosting the biannual meetings but also on identifying key regional priorities.

Among these is the long-delayed Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, which the Philippines plans to push forward during its chairmanship.

“So one of the things is the COC, for example. Number one para sa atin. (That’s our top priority.) The other member states, that’s not as big a priority to them as it is to us. So, this is our chance to really promote that and to highlight that, and hopefully we will succeed,” Marcos said.

The COC aims to establish rules of engagement between ASEAN member states and China to prevent tensions and miscalculations in disputed waters.

Marcos recalled a conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country chaired the ASEAN this year, that prompted the Philippines to begin preparations early.

“He said, ‘You know this is what we’re having to do and these are the things that we are having to arrange. It’s a big…’ And so immediately I said, ‘We’re next, we have to start preparing,’” Marcos said.

“So, we have been preparing for it for about eight months now since nag-usap kami ni Anwar. (Anwar and I spoke.) Sabi ko, ‘Wow, malaking bagay pala ito. Ang dami palang kailangang gawin.’ So, pinaghahandaan na talaga namin. [Translation: said, this is a big undertaking, there’s so much to do. So we’ve really been preparing for it.’) So, we are prepared],” he added.

The Philippines last chaired ASEAN in 2017. Its 2026 chairship will mark the country’s fifth time to lead the 11-member bloc, including Timor-Leste.