South Asia in June 2026: the most important developments in politics
In South Asia and Southeast Asia in June 2026, the largest diplomatic event was the Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan on June 17 and 18. Putin hosted ASEAN leaders, spoke of shared values and long cooperation, and the leaders adopted the Kazan Declaration and renewed a 35-year strategic partnership. The ASEAN secretary general said the bloc's partnership with the United States would not affect its relations with Russia. China was also active: President Xi Jinping pledged a security partnership with Cambodia on June 26, Myanmar's president Min Aung Hlaing made a state visit to China, and China urged ASEAN members to avoid joining "exclusive circles."
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made his first foreign tour, to China and Malaysia. In Beijing on June 25, Bangladesh and China agreed to deepen cooperation on the Teesta River project, and a joint statement covered Mongla Port; Beijing also proposed an economic corridor linking Bangladesh, Myanmar and China. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ousted two years earlier, said on June 28 and 29 that she would return to Bangladesh this year. Bangladesh's Muhammad Abdul Muhith was elected president of the UN General Assembly.
In Sri Lanka, the bribery commission arrested the former president's son on June 17, and a court granted him bail. The Supreme Court reserved judgment on a fundamental rights petition against former minister Fowzie, and a senior police officer sought a court order to prevent his arrest in the investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Sri Lanka reaffirmed a neutral foreign policy in talks with US Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur.
In Southeast Asia, Cambodia began a UN-backed process to settle its maritime dispute with Thailand, and Thailand said it would appoint conciliators. Bangkok and Pattaya held elections on June 28. In Malaysia, PAS severed ties with Bersatu, and the Johor state assembly was dissolved ahead of a state election. On June 30 an Indonesian court sentenced former minister Nadiem Makarim to 10 years in prison for corruption.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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