ASEAN ministers meet in Manila, cite Iran war, energy crisis

Foreign ministers from Southeast Asia and major global powers convened in Manila on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, for a series of high-level meetings dominated by the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict and escalating regional tensions, particularly in the South China Sea. The gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners opened against a backdrop of instability, with the ministers issuing a joint statement expressing serious concern over renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran and calling for an immediate halt to fighting and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministers stated that the developments severely undermine ongoing mediation efforts and diminish prospects for a peaceful resolution. The regional bloc, with a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion and heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil, is acutely exposed to supply disruptions and price shocks stemming from the conflict. In response, ASEAN nations are seeking to fast-track an oil-sharing mechanism to mitigate the impact. The crisis was exacerbated by a recent announcement from Yemen's Houthi forces of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising fears...