Leaders of Southeast Asian nations gathered in the Philippines on 8 May for an ASEAN summit focused heavily on the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, with member states seeking a coordinated response to rising energy and food security risks.
Meeting on the island of Cebu, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations discussed measures to reduce pressure on economies heavily dependent on imported energy following weeks of disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Opening the summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said ASEAN must strengthen regional coordination to protect energy security and economic stability.
“At a time of heightened volatility, ASEAN must strengthen coordination and reinforce preparedness,” Marcos said.
ASEAN economic ministers meeting ahead of the summit identified several proposed measures aimed at improving regional resilience, including diversifying fuel suppliers and shipping routes, enhancing interconnectivity and establishing crisis communication mechanisms.
The Philippines has also pushed for faster approval of a voluntary ASEAN oil-sharing framework designed to support member states during supply disruptions.
However, analysts note that ASEAN coordination remains difficult due to differing economic structures and the bloc’s consensus-based decision-making process.
The 11-member grouping, home to nearly 700 million people, remains highly exposed to global energy shocks caused by tensions in the Gulf region.
ASEAN leaders are expected to call for a negotiated settlement between the United States and Iran and for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route that previously handled around one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments.
A draft summit statement seen by Reuters showed leaders would urge member states to complete domestic approval processes needed for a regional fuel-sharing agreement to enter into force.
Alongside discussions on the Middle East, ASEAN leaders also addressed regional tensions, including relations between Thailand and Cambodia after border clashes last year.
Marcos hosted talks between leaders from both countries, resulting in an agreement to resume engagement under a fragile ceasefire.
Foreign ministers also agreed to hold a virtual meeting with Myanmar’s leadership as the country seeks to improve ties with ASEAN following years of isolation after the 2021 military coup and subsequent civil conflict.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation founded in 1967 to promote political and economic cooperation among countries in Southeast Asia.
It currently has 11 member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam) and operates on a consensus-based model, focusing on regional stability, economic integration, and diplomatic coordination.
ASEAN does not have supranational authority over its members, which include major emerging economies and developing states, and its decisions are implemented voluntarily by member governments.
Operations at several energy facilities in Saudi Arabia were suspended on Tuesday after attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces injured more than 70 ...
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at leas...
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday a €200 million (...
At least five people were killed and five others injured when an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway and crashed while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, 6 September, local officials said.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” in its war against Iran had changed “before it is too late”, a day after Washington struck several Iranian tankers in the Gulf.
U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday on efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta's main airport and four others after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced widespread flight cancellations, though fresh eruptions have kept authorities on alert.
Operations at several energy facilities in Saudi Arabia were suspended on Tuesday after attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces injured more than 70 people and sparked fires, Saudi authorities said.
The future of the Caspian Sea is in focus at Baku Climate Action Week, with experts examining how the region can adapt to a changing climate while protecting communities, infrastructure and ecosystems.
Syria's government has integrated armed factions into the national army and is restructuring its security institutions as part of a broader effort to consolidate state authority and support the country's post-conflict recovery, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Monday.
Kazakhstan plans to build an international Earth observation satellite network of up to 14 spacecraft, expanding a project already bringing together Mongolia, the Republic of the Congo and Nigeria.
Iran has dismissed a joint U.S.-E3 draft resolution on its nuclear programme as “meaningless, illogical, and illegal”, saying Tehran is ready to respond if the measure is pursued at the ongoing IAEA board meeting in Vienna.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment