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.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The cla...
A cross-party delegation of British lawmakers is set to visit China in mid-May for the first time since ...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top storie...
Britain will summon the Chinese ambassador after two men were convicted in a London court of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China, Se...
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered heavy early losses in local elections on 8 May 2026, as results pointed to significant vo...
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
A cross-party delegation of British lawmakers is set to visit China in mid-May for the first time since 2019. The trip is positioned as a sign of cautious warming of ties, following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing earlier this year, according to two sources familiar with the plans.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Britain will summon the Chinese ambassador after two men were convicted in a London court of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said on 8 May.
The U.S military said it carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran on Thursday (7 May). Meanwhile, Iran's Joint Military Command accused the U.S. of breaching the ceasefire, by striking an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on several Iranian cities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran wanted to negotiate and make a deal in comments to reporters on Wednesday (6 May). But earlier, he warned Washington would ramp up attacks if no agreement was reached.
Argentinian authorities are reconstructing the journeys of Dutch citizens who presented with symptoms of deadly hantavirus after visiting Argentina and Chile as part of a luxury cruise trip, the country's Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (6 May)
Latvian authorities said two drones entered NATO member Latvia from Russian territory and crashed on Thursday morning, with officials linking them to Ukraine’s wider drone operations against targets in Russia.
The Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026 will mark its 10th anniversary with a major entertainment programme in Baku, headlined by global pop star Katy Perry.
Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar signed its first export agreement on Wednesday for the newly unveiled Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
Iran’s parliamentary speaker has warned that Tehran still faces the risk of military or terrorist attacks, despite reports that a peace agreement with the U.S. could be announced this week.
Ukraine’s military said it struck a Russian Karakurt-class small missile carrier in the Caspian Sea near Russia’s Dagestan region on Thursday. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, according to Kyiv.
An Israeli air strike has killed the son of Hamas’ chief negotiator in U.S.-mediated Gaza talks, as group leaders met in Cairo to shore up a fragile ceasefire with Israel.
Reports that Emmanuel Macron planned to cross from Armenia into Türkiye via their closed border - and was reportedly blocked following consultations with Azerbaijan - have sparked renewed debate on South Caucasus diplomacy.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment