Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At this special Southeast Asia Roundtable session of the Diplomatic Diary series, ORF convenes the Ambassadors of the Philippines and Timor-Leste to examine the evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape of the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN.
Bringing together a founding member state (the Philippines) and ASEAN’s 11th member (Timor-Leste), the discussion highlights the revitalization of regional architecture, maritime security, the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, plurilateral frameworks, defense modernization (including the BrahMos system), and bilateral cooperation with India across trade, energy, and digital public infrastructure.
Key Discussion Points:
India–Philippines Strategic Ties: BrahMos acquisition, joint naval exercises, direct air connectivity, and visa-free travel.
Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Integration: Economic potential, UNCLOS dispute resolution experience, and energy cooperation with India.
Regional Maritime Security: UNCLOS compliance, freedom of navigation, and managing great-power competition.
Plurilaterals & Minilaterals: Assessing the strategic value of coalitions like India-Japan-Philippines and the Quad/Squad.
Speakers:
H.E. Josel F. Ignacio | Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to India
H.E. Carlito Nunes | Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to India
Moderated by: Prof. Harsh V. Pant | Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
#ASEAN #BRAHMOS #IndiaASEAN #IndoPacific #ActEastPolicy #Philippines #TimorLeste #Geopolitics #MaritimeSecurity #SouthChinaSea #ORF
At this special Southeast Asia Roundtable session of the Diplomatic Diary series, ORF convenes the Ambassadors of the Philippines and Timor-Leste to examine the evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape of the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN.
Bringing together a founding member state (the Philippines) and ASEAN’s 11th member (Timor-Leste), the discussion highlights the revitalization of regional architecture, maritime security, the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, plurilateral frameworks, defense modernization (including the BrahMos system), and bilateral cooperation with India across trade, energy, and digital public infrastructure.
Key Discussion Points:
India–Philippines Strategic Ties: BrahMos acquisition, joint naval exercises, direct air connectivity, and visa-free travel.
Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Integration: Economic potential, UNCLOS dispute resolution experience, and energy cooperation with India.
Regional Maritime Security: UNCLOS compliance, freedom of navigation, and managing great-power competition.
Plurilaterals & Minilaterals: Assessing the strategic value of coalitions like India-Japan-Philippines and the Quad/Squad.
Speakers:
H.E. Josel F. Ignacio | Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to India
H.E. Carlito Nunes | Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to India
Moderated by: Prof. Harsh V. Pant | Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
#ASEAN #BRAHMOS #IndiaASEAN #IndoPacific #ActEastPolicy #Philippines #TimorLeste #Geopolitics #MaritimeSecurity #SouthChinaSea #ORF
