Philippine President Marcos Jr. stated that ASEAN leaders will hold a "streamlined" summit in May, focusing on how to effectively respond to the economic impact brought about by the war in the Middle East.
It is reported that on Friday (March 27), Marcos Jr. revealed he had consulted with other ASEAN country leaders on whether to postpone the summit due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. He said: "The consensus is that now is the time when we must work together."
Marcos Jr. pointed out that this summit will focus on three major topics—supply of oil and petroleum products, food supply and prices, and issues concerning migrant workers. He emphasized: "We need a leaders' dialogue to jointly discuss countermeasures, help each other, and clarify ASEAN’s common position."
This Tuesday (March 24), the Philippines declared a "national energy emergency" due to fuel supply risks brought about by the US-Israel-Iran conflict. As the ASEAN rotating chair in 2026, the Philippines will host the 48th ASEAN Leaders' Summit and a series of meetings in Cebu on May 8-9.
ASEAN currently has 11 member countries. This summit will serve as an important platform for regional countries to coordinate their response to global energy and food shocks.