Southeast Asia’s leaders confront fallout from Iran war at ASEAN summit
Key takeaways
- Bloc is expected to call for deeper energy cooperation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Southeast Asia has been among the regions hardest hit by the conflict and Iran’s effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, which has blocked a large portion of the region’s supply of oil and natural gas.
- The bloc’s statement will also focus on how member countries can work together on energy and food security, according to the draft.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Bloc is expected to call for deeper energy cooperation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Workers arrange microphones on stage before the start of the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8, 2026 [Aaron Favila/Pool via Reuters]By Erin Hale Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026Southeast Asian leaders have gathered in the Philippines to coordinate a joint response to the fallout from the war on Iran, which has prompted a surge in energy prices across the region.
Speaking at the opening of the gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the United States-Israeli war on Iran had been felt “through higher living costs” and “threatened livelihoods” both in “our homelands and amongst our nationals in the Middle East”.