Welcome to Foreign Policy’s Southeast Asia Brief, and Happy New Year.

The Christmas period saw a flurry of news in Southeast Asia.

Welcome to Foreign Policy’s Southeast Asia Brief, and Happy New Year.

The Christmas period saw a flurry of news in Southeast Asia.

After talks hosted by China, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a cease-fire that at time of writing seems to be holding despite strains.

In Malaysia, former Prime Minister Najib Razak was found guilty of abuse of power and money laundering and sentenced to 15 years in jail over his role in the enormous 1MDB fraud, which entailed billions in embezzled state funds.

And Myanmar kicked off its rigged election, too—more on that below.

Heading into 2026, Southeast Asia will be facing challenging circumstances.

There’s an unpredictable administration in the U.S. and an emboldened one in China; the possibility of a renewed conflict between Cambodia and Thailand; and worries about the global economy, climate change, and rowdy publics will be weighing on the minds of policymakers.

Looking ahead, though, four key stories stand out as bearing close attention.

FP Live:

Every January, FP Live dedicates one episode to looking ahead at the next calendar year. What will 2026 hold in store for global politics, conflict, and the world order? Join Ravi Agrawal in conversation with Peter Baker, the New York Times’ chief White House correspondent, for the second of a two-part series looking back and ahead as a new year begins. Register now.

Every January, FP Live dedicates one episode to looking ahead at the next calendar year. What will 2026 hold in store for global politics, conflict, and the world order? Join Ravi Agrawal in conversation with Peter Baker, the New York Times’ chief White House correspondent, for the second of a two-part series looking back and ahead as a new year begins. Register now.

The Myanmar Junta’s Push to Consolidate

A sham election is underway in Myanmar, with two more stages to go and results expected at the end of January.

The final tally is of limited importance since the affair is rigged to ensure the junta gets the result it wants.

But the elections are just one part of a broader attempt by the ruling military to legitimize itself and find a way out of the devastating civil war that it sparked with its 2021 coup.

Opponents of the regime reject the election and have continued

© Foreign Policy