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UK foreign secretary signals Southeast Asia ties after Asean visit
The Manila trip came about 48 hours after Ed Miliband took office, underscoring continuity in Britain’s post-Brexit engagement with the bloc.
Britain’s new Labour government is working to reassure Southeast Asia that its plans to rebuild ties with Europe will not be at the region’s expense, analysts say, after Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband chose the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila as his first overseas stop. Miliband was appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham on July 20 and attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting about 48 hours after taking office, observers said the move reflected continuity rather than a full policy reset in Britain’s post-Brexit engagement with the bloc, according to SCMP Economy. Analysts cited reasons Asean has grown more important to London, including trade and supply-chain links after Brexit, maritime and regional security, and a shared interest among middle powers in keeping diplomatic space open amid intensifying great-power pressure. The Manila gathering also marked five years since the United Kingdom became a full dialogue partner of the bloc. Before the foreign ministers, Miliband said it was “very, very important” to attend immediately as a sign of solidarity and of the importance Britain places on the partnership, emphasizing his country’s long-term commitment to Asean.