Asean members warm towards Myanmar, raising hopes it could come in from the cold

Southeast Asian nations are showing a warming sentiment towards easing Myanmar's isolation, five years after its military coup. This shift signals a potential move to reintegrate the crisis-torn country into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Foreign ministers from ASEAN have agreed to a virtual meeting with their Myanmar counterpart, as announced by ASEAN's secretary general during the recent summit in the Philippines. Myanmar has expressed a desire to normalize relations with the 11-member bloc. However, its neighbors are seeking tangible progress on de-escalation, dialogue, and humanitarian aid access before full reintegration.