Trudeau travels to Laos for ASEAN summit as Israel-Hamas conflict looms over trade discussions

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is traveling to Laos for the ASEAN summit on October 10-11, aiming to strengthen trade and political ties amid rising tensions from the Israel-Hamas conflict. Public opinion in Southeast Asia largely supports the Palestinian side. Trudeau's visit comes as Canada seeks to counter claims of indifference towards human rights issues in Gaza. The summit will also address differing ASEAN member states' views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with some nations condemning Israel's actions. Canada aims to finalize trade agreements with ASEAN, including a deal with Indonesia by the end of 2024. The country is competing with China for influence in the region, as ASEAN nations look to diversify their economic partnerships.