Prof. Dr. Marco Bünte participated in the 3rd German-Philippine Strategic Dialogue, held in Manila on 7–8 October 2026. Organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), and the Foundation for the National Interest (FNI), the event brought together scholars, policymakers, and diplomats from both countries to discuss current security challenges in Southeast Asia and opportunities for strengthening German-Philippine cooperation.
The discussions focused on the legal and security situation in the South China Sea ten years after the 2016 arbitral award issued in The Hague, ongoing tensions between China and the Philippines, and the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship. In his presentation, Prof Bünte examined the prospects for ASEAN under the Philippine Chairmanship and opportunities for deepening cooperation between the European Union and Southeast Asia.
Following the dialogue, Bünte participated in a closed-door roundtable discussion at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. The exchange with FSI representatives provided an opportunity to discuss regional security challenges, the Philippines’ role within ASEAN, and prospects for closer German-Philippine cooperation.