Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) On March 13, 2026, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Puangkhoyono attended a special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Middle East situation via video conference. The meeting was initiated by Thailand, and the Philippines, as the ASEAN chair, chaired the meeting with its Foreign Minister.
The foreign ministers exchanged in-depth views on the current situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on the ASEAN region, jointly discussing short-term countermeasures and collective solutions for building long-term resilience to address future crises. The ministers pointed out that the current situation in the Middle East remains highly tense and uncertain, reiterating the importance of adhering to the principles of international law, especially emphasizing the maintenance of freedom of overflight and navigation; they also called for an immediate cessation of all violence and for resolving conflicts through diplomatic channels and dialogue.
The meeting focused on analyzing the multi-dimensional impact of the Middle East situation on ASEAN, including the disruption of maritime transport routes in the Strait of Hormuz, which directly impacts the global energy supply chain and may trigger subsequent economic and energy crises.
In response, Thailand proposed three measures at the meeting, leveraging existing mechanisms: first, strengthening consular assistance cooperation and enhancing emergency response capabilities for the protection and evacuation of ASEAN citizens during crises through coordination among ASEAN embassies; second, ensuring the effective implementation of the ASEAN Oil Security Framework Agreement to buffer the impact of energy market fluctuations; and third, accelerating the transition to renewable and alternative energy sources to reduce the region's dependence on fossil fuels.
