Middle East crisis, South China Sea tensions dominate Asean top diplomats meetings
ASEAN foreign ministers have issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over escalating US-Iran hostilities and their potential impact on global energy and food security. The bloc called for immediate restraint and the protection of international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters
The statement reflects the geopolitical anxiety of Southeast Asian nations regarding how Middle Eastern conflicts can disrupt global supply chains and economic stability.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers have expressed "serious concern" over renewed US-Iran hostilities, calling for an immediate cessation of attacks across all fronts in the Middle East and warning that the escalating conflict threatens global energy supplies, trade, and food security."We are deeply concerned that these developments severely undermine the ongoing efforts of key mediators and diminish the prospects for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy," the ministers said in a joint statement.The 11-member bloc called on all parties to exercise "utmost self-restraint" and avoid any acts that could further aggravate the situation.
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