Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine that began on Feb 24 offers valuable lessons for the countries in the region, which have often become the pitched geopolitical battleground for the great powers. From now on, no matter how the Ukraine crisis ends, it will significantly impact the security of Europe and lead to the emergence of a new order to which Asean has to quickly adjust.
While the Myanmar quagmire will continue to dominate Asean's agenda under Cambodia and future chairs, one must not forget that the current chair must also deal with a myriad of challenges across all sectors of the grouping's ongoing cooperation. The much-awaited foreign ministerial retreat last Thursday has once again shown that Asean remains a closely knit, pragmatic family.
Thank Lord Buddha! The Land of Smiles is not going to turn into the land of ganja any time soon. That means you still cannot smoke pot openly as you will be jailed. However, omelets mixed with ganja or kratom leaves or deep broth with wagyu beef are popular dishes and highly recommended for persons who need a quick stir for their emotions.
After 32 years of frosty relations, the dramatic normalisation of Thai-Saudi diplomatic relations have far-reaching implications for both countries' diplomatic pathways in the world's most volatile region.