Despite lofty declarations, Dr. James Gomez warns ASEAN’s rigid structure and weak Myanmar stance threaten its future relevance.
By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 – The 46th ASEAN Summit, hosted in Kuala Lumpur from May 26–27, marked a pivotal moment in Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship. Held under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” the summit aimed to strengthen intra-regional cooperation while expanding ASEAN’s strategic outreach.
Among the major diplomatic highlights were the second ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the first-ever ASEAN–GCC–China Summit, positioning ASEAN at the center of shifting global alliances.
🔹 High-Level Engagements and Strategic Themes
Leaders from all 10 ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — were present, along with Timor-Leste in observer status.
Key dignitaries included:
- Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Summit Chair)
- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
- Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
- Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh
- Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, plus Gulf royals
- China’s Premier Li Qiang
The Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future was adopted, charting the bloc’s long-term vision on governance, economic integration, and digital advancement. External dialogues with the GCC and China emphasized trade, energy, sustainable development, and the urgent need to reinforce supply chains amid global economic headwinds.
🧭 Analysis by Dr. James Gomez: Progress or Paralysis?
Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of the Asia Centre, offered TNS News a candid assessment of the summit’s outcomes — particularly ASEAN’s handling of the Myanmar crisis and its outdated diplomatic architecture.
“There was certainly evidence of regional civil society groups gathering in KL for different activities as part of the ASEAN summit,” Dr. Gomez said.
“However, it didn’t come across that the advocacy on key issues was robust and effective, especially on Myanmar.”
🛑 Myanmar: A Crisis on Repeat
ASEAN leaders reiterated the Five-Point Consensus, first agreed in 2021, calling for inclusive dialogue and cessation of violence in Myanmar. The summit’s final communiqué expressed “deep concern”, but offered no new enforcement mechanisms, timelines, or consequences for non-compliance.
“Apart from repeating the call for the junta to adhere to ASEAN’s 5-point plan, there was nothing new or substantial to move the needle on resolving the internal civil conflict in Myanmar,” Gomez emphasized.
⚙️ ASEAN’s Consensus Model: A Stumbling Block?
Gomez directed sharp criticism at ASEAN’s internal workings.
“Structurally, ASEAN in its current form is not nimble. It is very much stuck in the past model of consensus-based approach,” he said.
“Moving forward I don’t think this is going to work, as we can see from internal politics, it’s more issue-based and strategic partnership-based.”
“Which means the relevance and effectiveness of ASEAN can be questioned.”
This consensus-first model, once considered ASEAN’s cornerstone, is increasingly viewed as a source of paralysis in dealing with urgent regional challenges.
🌏 Rising Tensions, Diverging Interests
Gomez also warned of geopolitical fragmentation as ASEAN member states navigate the growing U.S.–China rivalry.
“Further with the US–China rivalry, the unity of ASEAN is likely to be tested further as member states are likely to pursue their own paths of self-interest.”
As global pressure mounts, ASEAN’s ambition for centrality risks being undercut by individual national alignments and security considerations.
🌱 Timor-Leste: A Welcome Addition
Amid the criticism, Gomez welcomed one meaningful development: the impending full membership of Timor-Leste, expected by October 2025.
“The one positive news for me, was that the membership of Timor-Leste is almost all but approved for October 2025,” he said.
“This would add a small but welcome addition to ASEAN.”
“I anticipate there will be some element of novelty and alternative perspective within ASEAN that might provide a much-needed internal boost.”
Timor-Leste, Southeast Asia’s youngest democracy, could bring renewed energy and an alternative voice to a bloc often perceived as rigid and top-down.
🧩 Conclusion: Reform or Relevance?
The 46th ASEAN Summit delivered visionary declarations and strategic summits — but fell short on concrete progress where it arguably matters most: Myanmar, unity, and institutional agility.
Dr. James Gomez’s insights reflect a broader concern in regional policy circles: Without meaningful reform, ASEAN’s influence may diminish just as the region becomes a strategic fulcrum in global affairs.
As Malaysia continues its 2025 chairmanship, the summit serves as both a diplomatic milestone and a warning: to remain relevant, ASEAN must evolve — or risk being sidelined by the very forces it seeks to manage.
The recently concluded 46th ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur from May 26 to 27 under Malaysia’s chairmanship, was themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” The summit aimed to serve as a platform for addressing pressing regional challenges and deepening ties with external partners. Among its notable features were the second ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural ASEAN–GCC–China Summit, underscoring ASEAN’s growing efforts to diversify its diplomatic and economic engagements amid intensifying geopolitical competition.
A High-Level Gathering Amid Strategic Shifts
The summit convened heads of state and government from the ten ASEAN member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Key figures included host Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and newly elected President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.
High-level representatives from the Gulf — including Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and crown princes from Kuwait and Bahrain — also participated. China’s Premier Li Qiang attended the trilateral summit, further elevating the event’s global profile.
Deliberations covered a broad range of issues: digital transformation, regional integration, climate resilience, and supply chain security. A central outcome was the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, a long-term strategic roadmap for the region. Parallel talks with GCC and China focused on economic cooperation, energy security, sustainable development, and digital trade — all against a backdrop of rising protectionism, including threats of tariffs from the United States.
Dr. James Gomez: A Candid Appraisal
In an interview with TNS News, Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of the Asia Centre, offered a sober assessment of the summit’s limitations, particularly around its continued failure to advance meaningful progress on the Myanmar crisis.
“There was certainly evidence of regional civil society groups gathering in KL for different activities as part of the ASEAN summit,” Dr. Gomez noted.
“However, it didn’t come across that the advocacy on key issues was robust and effective, especially on Myanmar.”
At the summit, ASEAN leaders reiterated their call for the Myanmar junta to implement the Five-Point Consensus, originally agreed upon in 2021. The final communiqué expressed “deep concern” over continued violence in the country and urged all parties to engage in inclusive dialogue. However, critics noted the declaration offered no new enforcement mechanisms, timelines, or diplomatic escalations — echoing earlier statements that have failed to shift the situation on the ground.
“Apart from repeating the call for the junta to adhere to ASEAN’s 5-point plan, there was nothing new or substantial to move the needle on resolving the internal civil conflict in Myanmar,” Dr. Gomez emphasized.
Stuck in Structure: A Rigid Model
Gomez’s critique goes deeper than diplomacy. At the heart of ASEAN’s inertia, he argued, lies a structural problem.
“Structurally, ASEAN in its current form is not nimble. It is very much stuck in the past model of consensus-based approach,” he said.
“Moving forward I don’t think this is going to work, as we can see from internal politics, it’s more issue-based and strategic partnership-based.”
“Which means the relevance and effectiveness of ASEAN can be questioned.”
This consensus-driven model, once ASEAN’s strength, is now seen by many as a bottleneck preventing timely and decisive action — especially on security and governance challenges like those in Myanmar.
Unity Under Pressure: The US–China Factor
Gomez also warned of growing geopolitical strain within ASEAN due to the sharpening rivalry between the United States and China.
“Further with the US–China rivalry, the unity of ASEAN is likely to be tested further as member states are likely to pursue their own paths of self-interest.”
This fragmentation is already visible in divergent security alignments and trade strategies pursued by individual member states. Without stronger cohesion, ASEAN’s claim to “centrality” in the Indo-Pacific could be undermined.
Timor-Leste: A Glimmer of Optimism
Amid the criticism, Gomez highlighted one bright spot — the imminent accession of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member by October 2025.
“The one positive news for me, was that the membership of Timor-Leste is almost all but approved for October 2025,” he said.
“This would add a small but welcome addition to ASEAN.”
“I anticipate there will be some element of novelty and alternative perspective within ASEAN that might provide a much-needed internal boost.”
Timor-Leste’s inclusion is symbolically important and potentially catalytic — bringing fresh perspectives from a younger democracy still navigating its post-independence identity.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
The 46th ASEAN Summit revealed both the aspirations and contradictions within the bloc. While leaders signalled unity and ambition through long-term declarations and expanded partnerships, the lack of progress on urgent crises — most notably Myanmar — highlighted the limits of ASEAN’s current diplomatic playbook.
Dr. James Gomez’s analysis reflects the growing view that ASEAN must reform its decision-making structure and embrace more agile, issue-driven cooperation. Without it, the bloc risks drifting further into irrelevance — just as the region becomes a central arena for global power rivalry.
As Malaysia continues its 2025 Chairmanship, the challenge is clear: preserve ASEAN’s unity while making it more responsive, more inclusive — and above all — more effective.
- TNS News