ASEAN Meeting in Manila Focuses on Iran War, Myanmar Crisis

The 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting opened in Manila on Tuesday, with leaders calling for collective action to confront a widening array of crises ranging from the renewed Iran conflict to long-standing maritime disputes and a stalled peace process in Myanmar. Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, in her opening address, urged the bloc to respond to what she described as a world of “upheaval, uncertainty and unpredictability” through “active, deliberate problem solving.” Her remarks set the tone for a week of high-stakes diplomacy that will include sessions with counterparts from the United States, China, Japan, Russia, and other major powers.

Opening Calls for Unity

Lazaro stressed that no single nation can withstand the current global fractures alone, warning that the region risks being “pulled apart” if it fails to move forward as one. Her appeal came as the bloc faces internal divisions over the South China Sea and external pressures from great-power rivalry. The meeting is the first of several conclaves this week, culminating in the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum on Thursday. Confirmed attendees include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, setting the stage for intense bilateral discussions on the sidelines.

Iran Crisis and Energy Security

A draft statement obtained by the Associated Press reveals that ASEAN foreign ministers are set to express deep alarm over renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran, particularly threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The region relies heavily on crude oil transiting that waterway, and the ministers are expected to call for the restoration of safe, unimpeded passage for vessels and aircraft. The draft also underscores the need for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities across all fronts in the Middle East, warning of further implications for regional trade, energy markets, and food security. In parallel, efforts to ratify the bloc’s Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security—a fuel-sharing plan designed to enable coordinated emergency responses to supply disruptions—are expected to gain momentum this week. Philippine Trade Secretary Cristina Roque had earlier described the plan as a mechanism for collective action during supply shocks.

Myanmar Stalemate

Myanmar remains a persistent challenge for ASEAN. An extended informal consultation on the situation in the country is scheduled for Tuesday, following a breakthrough face-to-face meeting in Bangkok on July 12—the first such interaction between ASEAN foreign ministers and their Myanmar counterpart since the 2021 coup. During that session, the bloc announced its intention to reboot the Five-Point Consensus, an April 2021 initiative that calls for an immediate cessation of violence and inclusive dialogue involving all parties to the conflict. Lazaro, who also serves as the ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar, has been tasked with reinvigorating the stalled peace process. However, skepticism remains high given the military junta’s past reluctance to implement the consensus, and the ongoing conflict has plunged the country into economic instability and a humanitarian crisis.

Looking Ahead

Beyond the immediate crises, this week’s meetings will test ASEAN’s ability to maintain its centrality in a region increasingly shaped by U.S.-China competition. The outcomes of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum will provide indicators of whether the bloc can navigate between rival powers while addressing internal fissures. Energy security, maritime norms, and the Myanmar conflict are likely to remain touchpoints for the foreseeable future, with the success of the fuel-sharing framework and the rebooted peace initiative serving as litmus tests for ASEAN’s relevance. The draft statement on Iran, expected to be released after Tuesday’s session, will offer an early gauge of the bloc’s resolve to act collectively in the face of global instability.