The Philippines has called for enhanced crisis coordination among Southeast Asian nations to address the ongoing economic disruptions triggered by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The appeal came during a foreign ministers’ meeting held Thursday in Cebu, ahead of the annual ASEAN leaders’ summit scheduled for Friday.

The conflict, which began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. This has had a significant impact on Southeast Asia, where many countries depend heavily on Middle Eastern crude oil imports. The disruption has resulted in rising energy costs, which in turn have pushed up prices for agricultural inputs, food, and basic commodities across the region.

Theresa Lazaro, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary, emphasized the severity of the crisis, noting that ASEAN imports about two-thirds of its crude oil. She highlighted the widespread consequences, including interruptions in transportation and tourism, and concerns for millions of ASEAN nationals residing in the Middle East. As chair of ASEAN this year, the Philippines has taken steps to coordinate the regional response, convening special meetings aimed at enhancing institutional preparedness during such crises.

The Philippines, which sources over 90 percent of its crude oil from the Gulf, has been one of the most affected countries. In March, the government declared a national energy emergency after local diesel and petrol prices more than doubled. Similarly, Vietnam relies on the Gulf for roughly 80 percent of its crude oil imports. Other nations such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand have experienced fuel supply shortages, leading some petrol stations to suspend operations temporarily.

The significance of the war’s economic fallout remains a key topic as ASEAN’s 11 member states prepare to convene their leaders. Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst and international studies lecturer at De La Salle University in Manila, described the bloc’s capacity to intervene as limited but stressed the importance of a unified regional strategy. He suggested that ASEAN countries need to consolidate efforts to recognize the issues clearly and develop mechanisms to secure energy resources and strengthen supply chains, aiming to mitigate the impact even if the broader conflict remains beyond their control.

Earlier, ASEAN members pledged to keep trade channels open and avoid restrictive measures amid the crisis. They also affirmed plans to accelerate the ratification of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security (APSA), which would enable coordinated emergency fuel sharing among member states. Additionally, the bloc committed to upgrading trade agreements with partners like China, South Korea, and Canada, while promoting intra-ASEAN trade and advancing the ASEAN power grid project, designed to interconnect the region’s electricity networks.

The upcoming leaders’ summit is expected to issue a collective ASEAN statement addressing the bloc’s response to the Middle East conflict and its regional implications.