ASEAN Summit schedule to go as planned despite Trump’s expected late arrival on closing day—DFA

US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up upon arrival at Miami International Airport in Miami, on April 11, 2026. Jim Watson, AFP/FileMANILA — The schedule of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will push through despite the late arrival of US President Donald Trump on the final day of the summit, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

DFA-ASEAN spokesperson Dax Imperial said the closing ceremony on Nov. 17 will proceed despite the ASEAN-US Special Summit set later in the day.

“Nothing will be pushed back. We will proceed as planned with regard to the preparations especially on the closing ceremony,” he said in his first press briefing at the International Media Center on Friday, ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

“However, the day will culminate with the ASEAN-US Special Summit. That summit will still take place despite the late arrival of the President,” Imperial added.  

The Foreign Affairs official confirmed that the US leader would have bilateral engagements on Nov. 18,  but said he had no details yet on the matter.

Prior to the summit’s opening, Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro will convene the foreign ministers in the regional bloc for their final meeting this year on Saturday, Nov. 14.

To be discussed are the review and decision on the implementation of the 5-point consensus on the situation in Myanmar, the adoption of the concept note, and terms of reference of the planned establishment of an ASEAN Maritime Center and Transboundary Haze, among others.

The 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will officially commence on Sunday, Nov. 15 where Marcos will chair the meetings.

It will start with the opening ceremony to be followed by the plenary and retreat sessions of the leaders and will culminate with interface meetings with the ASEAN Interparliamentary Assembly, ASEAN Business Advisory Council, and ASEAN Youth.

Meanwhile, the Plus One Summits will begin on Nov. 16 -17 where ASEAN leaders will engage with dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, United Nations, and the United States.

On the last day, Marcos will also convene the 29th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit (EAS) which will seek “to advance practical cooperation and constructive dialogue in addressing shared regional and global challenges particularly amid evolving geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties.”

The ceremonial handover of ASEAN chairship to Singapore will happen on the closing ceremony.

Imperial noted that leaders are expected to discuss and come up with measures addressing the energy crisis brought about by the Middle East tensions, issues on food security issues, transnational crime and online scams and welfare of migrant workers.

Marcos is expected to have bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with leaders from the US, Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, India, Laos and UN Secretary General António Guterres.