Expectations were high for the first in-person EU-ASEAN summit in years but the meeting agenda did not rise to the occassion. Despite having plenty of common ground, the bloc missed an opportunity to strengthen its commitment to ASEAN by leaving the big ticket items to the side.

The EU and ASEAN need each other to counterbalance the geopolitical rivalry playing out between China and the United States. A strong partnership requires better communication by Brussels.

Civil society actors around the world are grappling with competition between values systems. Rising geopolitical tensions affect international civil society and its role in this shifting global order.

In this era of geopolitical competition, Europe believes it offers an approach based upon multilateralism and international solidarity. To convince others of this viable alternative, Europe must better understand perceptions in the Global South and improve its own international standing.

ASEAN countries’ responses to the war in Ukraine have not been cohesive, largely due to the perceived selectiveness of the EU’s refugee policy. This disconnect is resulting in a breakdown of trust in the EU-ASEAN relationship, a partnership that is necessary in order to revive multilateralism.

The EU’s inward-looking response to the coronavirus pandemic has dented the bloc’s credibility in the eyes of the Global South. To rebuild trust, the EU must renew its efforts in building more equal partnerships.