MANILA, Philippines – Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for an immediate halt to hostilities in the Middle East and the full, safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as they opened three days of high-level security talks in Manila on Tuesday, with the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran emerging as the meeting’s most pressing global concern.
Meeting behind closed doors at the Philippine International Convention Center, the ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement expressing “serious concern” over the renewed fighting involving the United States and Iran. The ministers warned that continued hostilities threaten regional and global stability, particularly through potential disruptions to energy supplies and international trade routes.
The conflict has heightened anxiety across Southeast Asia, where many economies depend heavily on imported oil from the Middle East. Officials warned that prolonged instability in the Gulf, particularly any disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, could drive up fuel prices, increase inflation, and slow economic growth across the region. ASEAN members are also discussing ways to strengthen regional energy cooperation, including efforts to accelerate an oil-sharing mechanism to cushion the impact of supply disruptions.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, serving as host of this year’s ASEAN ministerial meetings, welcomed delegates from the bloc’s member states and emphasized the importance of dialogue in addressing growing geopolitical challenges. Philippine officials said developments in the Middle East would be a major topic throughout the series of ministerial meetings and related summits.
Beyond the Middle East, ASEAN leaders are also confronting security issues closer to home. Discussions are expected to focus on the continuing conflict in Myanmar, where the regional bloc’s Five-Point Consensus has made little progress five years after the military seized power, as well as escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
The South China Sea issue gained renewed urgency following a recent confrontation near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippine military accused members of the China Coast Guard of assaulting a Filipino sailor during a maritime encounter. The incident prompted diplomatic protests from both Manila and Beijing and underscored the need for an effective Code of Conduct between ASEAN and China to reduce the risk of future confrontations.
The Manila meetings are also being attended by ASEAN’s major dialogue partners, including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Australia, India and the European Union. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to participate in ministerial sessions and hold bilateral meetings, including a planned discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as Washington and Beijing seek to manage tensions over regional security, maritime disputes, Taiwan, and the widening Middle East conflict.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is one of the region’s most important annual diplomatic gatherings, providing a platform for member states and key international partners to address security, economic cooperation, and geopolitical challenges affecting Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific. This year’s meeting has taken on added significance as simultaneous crises in the Middle East, Myanmar, and the South China Sea test the region’s stability and diplomatic unity.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
