Southeast Asian leaders seek strategy to ease impacts of Iran war

(Reuters)

CEBU, Philippines, May 8 – Leaders of Southeast Asian countries holding a summit on Friday are expected to thrash out ​a coordinated response to the impacts of the Middle East crisis, as they aim to ease pressure from an energy shock ‌that has rattled their oil import-reliant economies.

Meeting on the Philippine island of Cebu, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are expected to press for a harmonised strategy to ensure energy and food security in a region particularly exposed to a nearly 70-day blockade of the critical Strait of Hormuz.

In opening remarks ​as chair of ASEAN, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said ASEAN was standing together to demonstrate its capacity to ​respond with unity and resolve, but must remain agile.

“We must ensure regional energy security and resilience,” he ⁠said.

“At a time of heightened volatility, ASEAN must strengthen coordination and reinforce preparedness, pursue practical collective measures to safeguard a stable ​energy supply and improve interconnectivity.”