President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will host United States President Donald Trump and four other world leaders during bilateral talks alongside the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
Summit Schedule and Arrival Timelines
The Philippines is hosting the regional gathering from November 15 to 17 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” according to the Philippine News Agency. The three-day meetings open with plenary and retreat sessions covering regional priorities, including the situation in Myanmar.
United States President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Manila on November 17 at 5:30 p.m., just 30 minutes before the formal closing ceremony ends at 5:45 p.m., BusinessMirror reported based on the Asean National Organizing Council’s media advisory. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Dominic Xavier Imperial said that the schedule will not be adjusted for the late arrival.
“Regarding the program, nothing will be pushed back. We will proceed as planned with regard to the preparations especially on the closing ceremony,” said Imperial, who serves as spokesperson for ASEAN Affairs, according to GMA Network.
The final day will conclude with the ASEAN-United States Special Summit, and President Marcos is scheduled to hold a press conference at 6 p.m. following the closing ceremony and the ceremonial handover of the chairmanship to Singapore. Marcos and Trump are scheduled to hold a separate bilateral meeting on Wednesday, November 18.
Bilateral Meetings and Global Guests
Aside from the United States leader, Marcos will meet with the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea, ASEAN 2026 spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial confirmed during an interview at the International Media Convention at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, as reported by the Philippine News Agency. Proposed bilateral discussions with the leaders of India and Laos, as well as United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, remain in finalization.
At least 19 global leaders and heads of international institutions have confirmed their attendance, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will participate and speak during the plenary session as guests of the ASEAN chair.
Dialogue partner meetings will run from November 16 to 17 with representatives from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the United Nations, and the United States. New Zealand will send its deputy prime minister and foreign minister, while Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Protests and Security Zone Debates
The upcoming summit and Trump’s visit have drawn opposition from progressive groups across the country. More than a thousand faculty members, employees, and students of the University of the Philippines Los Baños staged a campus walkout to launch a six-day protest march toward Manila, denouncing foreign military intervention and the Pax Silica initiative, the, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Launched in December 2025, Pax Silica is a multinational coalition designed to secure supply chains for artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and critical minerals. The Philippines joined the initiative on April 17 as its 13th member, allocating a 1,620-hectare area in New Clark City, Tarlac, for its projects with government projections estimating investments between $40 billion and $70 billion.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton said that the formal signing of the Pax Silica agreement was never scheduled for the ASEAN Summit, noting that decisions will occur in full consultation with the Philippine government.
Security Deployments and Regional Context
In preparation for the events, the Philippine National Police increased its personnel deployment to more than 23,000 officers, drawing forces from the National Capital Region Police Office, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and other related agencies. Progressive coalitions organized actions across multiple regions, including regional demonstrations in Panay in front of West Visayas State University.
Government spending on the summit drew scrutiny from activist organizations, who pointed to national economic indicators showing the country’s unemployed population lifting the national jobless rate to 5.4 percent alongside domestic economic pressures. Organizers announced plans for further demonstrations culminating near Mendiola and the Philippine International Convention Center.