Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis) Malaysia’s Faiz Abdullah, the meeting’s co-chair, opened proceedings with a stark warning. “Regional tensions are not on the horizon – they are already upon us,” he said.

Faiz pointed to internal challenges such as the Myanmar crisis and the territorial disputes concerning the South China Sea.

He also referenced external threats in the form of major power rivalries which, he said, risk undermining Asean’s hard-earned multilateral frameworks.

US president Donald Trump’s announcement last week of crippling tariffs on a long list of countries, including every Asean nation, forced itself to the forefront of the meeting, with regional leaders and experts seeking to formulate appropriate individual and collective responses.

Although a subsequent announcement on Wednesday has staved off the immediate threat, the brief 90-day pause offered coupled with a punitive 125% levy imposed by the US on Chinese imports means the situation will remain tenuous for the Asean bloc which has extensive trade with both countries.

In a post on social media, investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz captured the sentiment well, saying: “The only certainty about Trump’s tariffs is uncertainty.”

As Asean chair, Malaysia is committed to pushing for a unified regional response to navigate the evolving challenges, with Wisma Putra seeking to shape the country’s priorities within the bloc’s political-security pillar.

Faiz’s South Korean co-chair, Choi Yoon Jung, urged attendees to focus on trust and collaboration.

“Despite global fragmentation, this meeting reminds us that dialogue is still possible. Engagement matters, and trust remains our most valuable asset in international relations,” she said.