ASEAN leaders mostly skip US talks after Trump no-show

In a letter, absent American president proposes hosting special summit next year

U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, third from left, poses for a group photograph with ASEAN leaders and foreign ministers during a summit Monday. © AP

MARIMI KISHIMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

November 5, 2019 01:44 JST

BANGKOK -- Just three Association of Southeast Asian Nation leaders attended a summit between their bloc and the U.S. on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump was a no-show for a second straight year, sending his national security adviser instead.

Of the 10 ASEAN countries, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Laos' Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith were the only leaders present at the meeting with Robert O'Brien.