ASEAN Ministers Call for Immediate Middle East Ceasefire

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened a special virtual meeting on March 13, 2026, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. The bloc expressed grave concern over a cycle of escalation that began with attacks by Israel and the United States against Iran on February 28, followed by an Israeli strike on Lebanon. These events triggered a massive Iranian retaliatory campaign involving missile barrages against Israel and strikes across multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. Specifically, the Israel Defense Forces reported striking over 200 targets in Iran under Operation Roar of the Lion.

Led by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, the ministers urged all parties to exercise self-restraint and resolve differences through diplomacy in accordance with the United Nations Charter. The group highlighted the conflict's severe economic impact, noting that volatile energy markets and disrupted maritime supply chains pushed crude oil prices toward $100 a barrel.

To mitigate these shocks, ASEAN committed to strengthening regional energy security through the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security. As part of this diversification effort, Secretary Lazaro indicated that the Philippines is considering purchasing oil from Russia to reduce its dependency on Middle Eastern fuel. The bloc also emphasized the need to protect ASEAN nationals in affected areas and safeguard vulnerable sectors such as tourism.