MANILA, Philippines—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stressed the need for regional solidarity to address escalating geopolitical tensions and maritime disputes in Southeast Asia, as the country hosts the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
During his welcoming remarks on the Summit in Manila on Sunday, Marcos said the growing tensions in the regional maritime disputes require deeper cooperation than ever before.
"That commitment matters even more as the waters around us turn and shift in tide. Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, new technologies, climate change, and transnational threats are shaping our region faster than any one country can respond alone,” said Marcos, addressing the ASEAN member state leaders and regional dialogue partnets.
