Foreign and economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) urged an immediate halt to the war in the Middle East on Friday, warning that soaring oil prices and disrupted trade routes are already straining Southeast Asia’s economies.
Several ASEAN members have begun rolling out emergency measures to conserve energy, stabilize domestic markets, and protect vulnerable sectors such as tourism. In a statement posted on X, ASEAN said the meeting focused on the conflict’s implications for regional stability, global economic conditions, and energy security. Ministers also emphasized the need to assist ASEAN nationals in affected areas and strengthen regional energy cooperation.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who chaired the special meeting, told reporters that ASEAN expressed “serious concern” and called for all parties to exercise restraint. She added that the bloc urged global energy supply chains to remain open and activated mechanisms to mitigate economic fallout.
Crude oil prices hovered near 100 dollars a barrel as Iran’s new supreme leader vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, threatening a route that carries one-fifth of global oil supply. ASEAN’s economic ministers warned that the region’s dependence on global oil and LNG supply routes makes it highly vulnerable to further shocks. They stressed the importance of reinforcing supply chain resilience, accelerating renewable energy transitions, and deepening cooperation to preserve economic stability.
The war has already killed thousands and displaced millions. Israel’s military said its air force struck more than 200 targets in Iran over the past day, while Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel overnight, undermining earlier claims that much of its long-range arsenal had been destroyed.
