ASEAN Foreign Ministers Warn of Global Harm from US-Iran War Amid Rubio's Visit

As the armed conflict between the United States and Iran enters its 10th day, the foreign ministers of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) issued a joint statement at their 59th ministerial meeting in Manila, Philippines, expressing 'serious concern' over the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

The statement noted that ongoing hostilities have severely undermined mediation efforts, calling on both parties to exercise 'extreme restraint,' immediately cease all hostilities across all fronts, and resume diplomatic dialogue to safeguard regional and global peace and prosperity.

ASEAN warned that the conflict has already affected global trade, energy markets, and food supply chains. In particular, regarding one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints—the Strait of Hormuz—ASEAN emphasized the need to maintain freedom of navigation and the continuity of commercial shipping in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), warning that any unilateral restrictive measures would have profound impacts on the global economy.

Given Southeast Asia's heavy reliance on energy imports, ASEAN member states are considering accelerating the activation of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA) to establish a regional oil-sharing mechanism in response to potential supply disruptions.

The meeting took place amid heightened geopolitical tensions, with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov attending related forums in Manila. It remains unclear whether Rubio will hold talks with either counterpart.

In addition to the Middle East crisis, the meeting also discussed the conflict in Myanmar and sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea. Recent violent clashes between Philippine naval personnel and Chinese coast guard forces at Ayungin Reef have further complicated regional tensions.

As the rotating chair, the Philippines emphasized that ASEAN's primary task is to maintain a platform for dialogue, urging continued efforts to seek peaceful solutions through multilateral mechanisms, even under conditions of extreme uncertainty.