At the ASEAN-U.S. Summit and East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Southeast Asian leaders, including Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the U.S.-Thailand alliance, counternarcotics, trade, and South China Sea issues. Meetings also occurred between ASEAN leaders and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, focusing on the South China Sea amid recent clashes involving China, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are set to meet to strengthen political ties, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to enhance India's strategic partnership with ASEAN. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to address the Myanmar civil war and South China Sea tensions, alongside improving trade relations with China. The gathering is marked by broader geopolitical tensions, including the Middle East conflict and ongoing issues in Myanmar.