Bandar seri begawan: His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, along with other ASEAN Leaders, attended the Plenary Session of the 48th ASEAN Summit, where discussions centered on regional energy security and resilience, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals. His Majesty welcomed The Philippines' Chairmanship theme, "Navigating Our Future, Together," emphasizing its relevance in the current complex global environment. Over the past two decades, ASEAN has weathered various regional and international crises, demonstrating the strength of unity, practicality, and a people-centered approach.
According to Radio Television Brunei, His Majesty highlighted the current crisis in the Gulf as a reminder of ASEAN's interconnected challenges. Issues such as volatile energy markets, higher prices, pressure on food production, rising logistics costs, and trade and investment uncertainty have direct impacts on the region's people. His Majesty stressed the importance of ASEAN remaining focused on the ASEAN family during crises, advocating for enhanced consular assistance in third countries through joint contingency planning and rapid-response protocols.
As ASEAN plans for its future, the region's resilience will be evaluated by the tangible benefits it provides its people, including stable energy, secure food supplies, and safer communities. At the conclusion of the Plenary Session, three outcome documents were adopted: the Cebu Protocol To Amend the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Maritime Cooperation; and the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on the Response to the Middle East Crisis.