Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing paid a state visit to Vientiane from July 3 to 5, commencing his first series of official visits to an ASEAN member state. The visit was made at the invitation of Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith and coincided with the commemoration of 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Author: Jonathan Kay
Research Assistant at CSIS Indonesia
Belarus and Indonesia Launch 5‑year Cooperation Roadmap
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko commenced his two-day visit to Jakarta on July 1 to meet his Indonesian counterpart, President Prabowo Subianto. The trip was a return call following President Prabowo’s trip to Minsk in July 2025 and marked the first Belarusian presidential visit to the archipelago in 13 years.
Myanmar Shuts Door on ASEAN Envoy Visiting Aung San Suu Kyi
The Myanmar government has rejected the request made by ASEAN’s special envoy and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro to meet with detained former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on June 30. Myanmar presidential spokeswoman Dauw Khaing Khaing Soe stated that San Suu Kyi is currently serving a sentence. Access, she maintained, will only be granted by the government once Suu Kyi has “finished serving her sentence.”
Men in Uniform: How Indonesia’s Security Apparatus Creep Back into Civilian Life
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Timor‑Leste Parliament Ratifies ASEAN Resolutions
The National Parliament of Timor-Leste ratified two new draft resolutions on June 29, aiming to ease the standardised domestic regulations to those of ASEAN. The new legislation was introduced during an ordinary plenary session witnessed by Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel.
Philippine President Pours Millions into Aid for Conflict‑Prone South
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Maimbung in Sulu province on June 29 to inaugurate the new Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 9B headquarters and witness the ceremonial surrender of former militia members.
Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo Begins Political Tour in Support of Youngest Son’s Party
Former Indonesian president Joko Widodo initiated his political tour across the archipelago from June 26 to 28 to campaign for the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), led by his youngest son Kaesang Pangarep, marking his most visible manoeuvre into active politics since leaving the presidency in 2024. On his first visit, he embarked for Lampung province in the country’s western island of Sumatra to attend the coordination meeting for the regional PSI office.
Australia and Thailand Hold Chapel Gold Drill
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTArF) are holding the latest iteration of Exercise Chapel Gold from June 18 to June 29 at Ban Dilang, Lopburi Province, Thailand.
Unknown projectiles strike Singaporean vessel, crew safe
The Singaporean-flagged vessel Ever Lovelywas struck by “an unknown projectile”while transiting near Dahit, Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz on June 25.The projectiles struck the bridge area and windows, but all 21 crew members aboard were safe, with no Singaporean seafarers involved. The vessel sustained minor damage but remained fully operational.
Three dead in Indonesian military training scheme for civilians
Three Indonesian trainees have been pronounced dead after undergoing compulsory basic military training organised by the Ministry of Defence. The training is a prerequisite for participation in the Indonesian Graduate Development Pioneers, Red and White Village/Urban-Village Cooperatives (KDMP) and Red and White Fishing Villages (KNMP).