KUALA LUMPUR — The corridors of Malaysia’s Putrajaya Convention Centre are already humming with the quiet diplomacy of aides and protocol officers. Banners bearing the ASEAN logo, newly restyled in deep gold and navy blue, flutter in the humid October air. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ambition is clear: to reframe ASEAN from a Southeast Asian alliance into a global diplomatic crossroads.
From October 26 to 28, Malaysia will host the 47th ASEAN Summit, the largest and most geopolitically expansive gathering in the bloc’s history. In addition to the ten ASEAN member nations, Kuala Lumpur will welcome leaders from across the Global South and beyond in a move that signals a new era for the association.
According to TASS, the confirmed guest list includes Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is also expected to attend.
“This will be the most significant ASEAN summit ever held,” said Anwar in a national briefing, calling the initiative “a massive diplomatic step” that would strengthen the bloc’s voice in global affairs.
ASEAN’s evolving identity from regional bloc to global convener
Established in August 1967 by five founding nations, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was created to promote regional peace, political stability, and economic cooperation amid Cold War tensions. Over time, its membership expanded to include Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, forming a ten-nation bloc often described as the cornerstone of Southeast Asian diplomacy.
Traditionally, ASEAN summits have maintained a regional orientation, with formal dialogues focused on partnerships with East Asian neighbors like China, Japan, and South Korea. But under Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is charting a broader course. According to TASS, the inclusion of leaders from Brazil, Italy, Canada, and potentially South Africa represents an unprecedented cross-continental expansion that seeks to reposition ASEAN as a central player in a multipolar world order.
“The summit will emphasize ASEAN’s central role in global geopolitics,” Anwar said during a press briefing, adding that the bloc must remain “relevant and united in an increasingly fragmented international system,” as quoted by Bernama, Malaysia’s state news agency.
ASEAN expands its reach as Global South leaders join summit stage
The guest list is not just symbolic. It reflects a strategic realignment, one in which ASEAN is no longer content to be a passive arena for global rivalries but is instead shaping a new global consensus.
According to The Straits Times, Anwar has spent the last six months cultivating ties with key southern economies, including Brazil and South Africa. Lula da Silva, known for his emphasis on South-South cooperation and for restoring Brazil’s global leadership credentials, is expected to use the summit to advocate for climate equity, development finance reform, and rethinking Western-dominated global institutions.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, signals the bloc’s openness to diplomatic outreach beyond traditional Western alliances while Mark Carney, Canada’s newly installed prime minister, is seen as a counterweight voice seeking middle-ground engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
According to The Arab Weekly, Diplomatic sources indicate that preparations for the summit include dozens of bilateral meetings and multiple side forums focused on trade digitalization and maritime security..
Anwar’s diplomatic pivot repositions ASEAN amid US-China rivalry
The transformation of this year’s summit cannot be separated from broader geopolitical tremors. ASEAN is caught between the escalating rivalry of the United States and China, each competing for influence across Southeast Asia.
According to The Jakarta Post, Anwar has stressed that “ASEAN must act as an autonomous actor, not a pawn, in the current global chessboard.” That vision includes welcoming new partnerships, even from distant continents, if it means strengthening ASEAN’s strategic leverage.
Kuala Lumpur is also leaning into the language of “multipolarity”, long championed by Russia, China, and the BRICS bloc. Brazil and South Africa’s presence at the ASEAN Summit suggests increasing diplomatic overlap between the two regional organizations. Analysts suggest this could be a step toward “BRICS-ASEAN alignment”, especially on issues like development aid reform and trade de-dollarization.
What to expect: trade, climate, digital cooperation top ASEAN agenda
The October summit’s formal agenda is expected to span several critical themes:
- Climate Justice and Green Finance: With Malaysia and Indonesia facing rising sea levels, ASEAN leaders may push for a shared framework on sustainable investment and climate resilience.
- Digital Economy Integration: According to The Diplomat, ASEAN is expected to finalize provisions for a regional digital trade agreement, which could form the basis of a digital ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
- South China Sea Stability: The longstanding maritime dispute may resurface, especially with external guests in attendance, but officials say the focus will be “constructive engagement,” not escalation.
- Security Dialogues with G20 Observers: This includes bilateral security talks with Canada and Italy, focusing on cybersecurity, terrorism financing, and regional intelligence sharing.
Officials say the summit will feature a tiered structure of engagement, starting with intra-ASEAN meetings followed by dialogues with external partners.
Anwar Ibrahim’s summit strategy places Malaysia at the center of a new world order
For Anwar Ibrahim, the 47th ASEAN Summit is not just a diplomatic event — it is a defining moment for Malaysia’s international role. By placing ASEAN at the center of emerging global coalitions, Anwar is crafting an image of Southeast Asia as a diplomatic architect of the new world order, rather than a bystander.
His vision echoes recent statements at international forums, where he has called on Asia and the Global South to “build a new consensus” beyond the Washington-Brussels axis.
“The time for deference is over,” Anwar declared during his Davos speech earlier this year. “We must shape, not follow, the direction of international cooperation.”
As ASEAN prepares for its most consequential summit yet, all eyes are on Kuala Lumpur, not just to watch, but to listen.
