ASEAN Leaders Await Trump in Manila as US Attendance Remains Unconfirmed
Southeast Asian leaders are eager to welcome US President Donald Trump to the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila, ASEAN Secretary-General Kau Kim Hourn said, according to Antara. But the Philippines was still awaiting US confirmation as of the news agency's November 4 report.
Confirmed guests and a planned Quad meeting
The Philippines has confirmed that the heads of state of China, Australia and South Korea will attend, Antara reported. India and Japan, like the United States, have yet to confirm.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. invited Trump to the ASEAN meetings during a July 2025 visit to the White House, according to The Philippine Star. Trump last visited the Philippines in November 2017, during his first term, when Manila hosted the 31st ASEAN Summit.
Separately, The Philippine Star reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed in late October or early November that Manila would host a Quad leaders' summit alongside the ASEAN meetings. The gathering of Australia, India, Japan and the United States would be the Quad's first leaders' summit since 2024 and Trump's first in his current term.
Summit schedule and Manila preparations
The 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits are scheduled for November 16-18, 2026, across Metro Manila, with the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City serving as the main venue, according to Philippine news reports and Wikipedia's entry on the 2026 ASEAN Summits.
The gathering is the main summit of the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN chairmanship. The official summit website gives the year's theme as "Navigating Our Future, Together."
Marcos has designated November 16-18 as special non-working days in the National Capital Region. The Philippine Star reported that the declaration cited expected traffic and security for summit participants.
Digital economy and South China Sea agenda
Wikipedia's entry on the 2026 ASEAN Summits lists two expected outcomes in Manila: the signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the finalization of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea. Both remain expectations rather than completed agreements.
The entry also lists UN Secretary-General António Guterres among the invited guests expected at the ASEAN-UN Summit, which will take place alongside the main gathering.
The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea is scheduled for November 15-17, 2026, alongside the summit. It is set to bring together maritime security practitioners, experts and officials.