Constantinos Kombos attends 25th EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting in Brunei

Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos represented Cyprus and the EU Council Presidency at the 25th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, from April 27 to 28, 2026. The summit focused on upgrading cooperation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership ahead of the 2027 anniversary summit marking 50 years of relations. Key topics discussed included maritime security, energy security, digital transition, and supply chain resilience. On the sidelines, Minister Kombos held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Singapore, East Timor, the Philippines, and Brunei. During the meeting with Brunei’s Foreign Minister Dato Erywan Yusof, the parties discussed regional stability and trade flows, noting Brunei's role as the ASEAN coordinator for 2024-2027. Discussions with Singapore’s Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan focused on maritime and energy security, while the meeting with East Timor’s Bendito dos Santos Freitas reaffirmed commitments to international law and territorial integrity. Cyprus aims to leverage its EU Presidency role to strengthen European engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.