Jakarta is set to host high-level diplomatic talks this weekend on Myanmar's ongoing civil war, ahead of the regional summit scheduled for next week, a senior Indonesian diplomat revealed on Thursday. Representatives from Indonesia, ASEAN, the European Union, the United Nations, and anti-junta groups will convene on Friday and Saturday to discuss the conflict, which has been ongoing since Myanmar's 2021 military coup. Notably, Myanmar's ruling military is not expected to participate in the discussions.

The talks will occur just before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathers in Laos from October 6-11. Myanmar’s civil war is anticipated to be a key topic on the 10-member bloc’s agenda. Although ASEAN has made multiple diplomatic attempts to resolve the conflict, progress has been minimal, and Myanmar's military leaders remain excluded from high-level ASEAN meetings.

The issue has caused divisions within the bloc, with countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines advocating for stricter measures against Myanmar's coup leaders. Meanwhile, Thailand has pursued its own bilateral talks with the military regime and detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The latest diplomatic effort comes as Myanmar's military struggles against ethnic minority armed groups and pro-democracy forces, known as People’s Defence Forces (PDFs). The conflict has led to the displacement of over three million people, according to United Nations estimates.

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